The self-governing region of the Åland Islands is an autonomous Swedish-speaking region of Finland
- Åland consists of 6,757 islands, 60 of which are inhabited
- The population is just over 30,000, of which 40 per cent lives in the capital of Marienhamn
- The total area of Åland (land and sea) is 13,300 km², while its land area is 1,553 km²
- There are 16 municipalities
- The economy is based on shipping (40 per cent), trade and tourism
- The national day, which is called Autonomy Day, is celebrated on 9 June
- Åland’s Parliament held its first session 9 June 1922
The only official language in Åland is Swedish. This means that Swedish is used by regional, municipal and state authorities when communicating in and with Åland.
Åland is a demilitarised region, meaning that there may be no military presence in the region and the islands may not be fortified. Åland is also neutralised and must therefore be kept outside the threat of war in the event of conflict.
Information about the government
Åland’s Parliament has 30 members who are elected every four years. The Parliament appoints the regional Åland Government. The Parliament passes laws in areas relating to the internal affairs of the region and exercises its own budgetary power. The parliament is also responsible for distributing Åland’s budget. Åland’s income consists of the region’s own revenues and a lump sum received from the Finnish Government, which constitutes a form of repayment for part of the taxes paid by Åland to the Finnish state.
Åland’s Parliament has the right to pass legislation on:
- education, culture and heritage sites
- healthcare, hospitals and social welfare
- environmental issues
- trade and industry
- local transport
- municipal administration
- policing
- the postal service, radio and TV
The Government of Åland is appointed by the Parliament and consists of a maximum of eight members. The administration is divided into six departments:
- Government Office
- Department of Infrastructure
- Department for Social Affairs, Health and the Environment
- Department of Trade and Industry
- Department of Education and Culture
- Department of Finance
Finnish state law applies in the areas in which the Åland Parliament does not have legislative powers:
- foreign affairs
- most areas of civil and criminal law
- the court system
- customs, coast guard, civil protection
- state taxation
- the Church Act
- Åland has one representative out of 200 in the Finnish Parliament
- The president of Finland appoints the Governor of Åland in consultation with Åland’s Parliament
- Finland constantly develops the system of self-government through continuous contacts with Åland and an integrated Åland policy
- Åland engages in dialogue with the Finnish Government and Parliament on language issues, legislative competence and taxation
Timeline of the history of Åland
- Around 4200 BCE: First humans arrive in the Åland archipelago
- Around 2500 BCE: First evidence of permanent settlement
- Early 1000s CE: Regions of present-day Finland gradually incorporated into the Swedish Empire
- Arrival of the Catholic Church (Crusades)
- Swedish colonisation of the archipelago and coastal regions
- Establishment of the Kingdom as an administrative entity, a long-term process
- 1714–1721: Great Northern War, Russian army occupies Åland (Great Wrath)
- 1742–1743: Second occupation by Russia during the Russo-Swedish War (Lesser Wrath); most of the population had fled to Sweden by that time
- 1808–1809: Finnish War, third Russian occupation results in conquest
- Finland, including Åland, becomes part of the Russian Empire and is established as a Grand Duchy
- 1853–1856: Crimean War between Russia and an alliance led by France and the United Kingdom
- Military action extends to Åland and the coast of Finland (Åland War)
- Åland demilitarised in the Treaty of Paris
- 1914: World War I breaks out, Russia begins to fortify Åland
- 1917: Finland becomes independent. In 1917, the Ålanders petition for the islands to be annexed to Sweden
- 1918: Finnish Civil War
- In February and March, forces from five different armies present in Åland: Russians, Red and White Finns, Swedes and Germans
- 1919: Paris Peace Conference in Versailles does not address the question of Åland
- 1920: First version of the Autonomy Act submitted to Finnish Parliament, but residents of Åland do not accept it
- 1921: Dispute over the status of Åland goes before the League of Nations
- Åland Convention re-establishes Åland’s demilitarised status
- 1922: Åland holds its first elections on 8 May, county councils (Åland Parliament) meet on 9 June
- 1938: Negotiations between Finland and Sweden on the defence of the Åland Islands
- 1939: Soviet Union rejects changes to the status of Åland, Sweden withdraws from the plans
- 1940: Agreement with the Soviet Union on demilitarisation and non-fortification
- Finland conducts defence activities in the Åland Islands during the Winter War and the Con-tinuation War
- 1947: Paris Peace Treaty confirms demilitarisation based on the 1921 and 1940 conventions
- 1951: Revision of the Act on the Autonomy of Åland
- Revised again in 1991, updates once again in progress