Aland Islands and EU Lisbon Treaty (October 2009 update)

According to the newspapers Ålandstidningen (13 October 2009) and Nya Åland (14 October 2009), the Autonomy Committee (Självstyrelsepolitiska nämnden) of the Åland Parliament (Ålands lagting) has prepared an opinion for the Legal Committee (Lagutskottet), which will issue a report on the application of the EU Treaty of Lisbon in the Åland Islands.

According to the newspaper articles, the Autonomy Committee recommends approval, by six votes to two, but encourages the Åland Government (Ålands landskapsregering) to continue its negotiations with the Finnish Government in order to enhance the region’s powers in EU affairs. .

The opinion was reported to be 17 pages long, but I was unable to find any indication of publication.

Approval by the plenary requires a qualified majority of two thirds in the 30 member regional Parliament, and it would concern application of the Lisbon Treaty in the Åland Islands, with regard to the areas with autonomous legislation.



Finland formally ratified the EU Treaty of Lisbon 30 September 2008.

If the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by the Czech Republic, it enters into force on the first day of the following month.

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YLE (the Finnish Broadcasting Company) has published a general news item on the Lisbon Treaty in Åland, in Finnish (updated 4 October 2009). The reform treaty is expected to reach the plenary during the first half of November.



Ralf Grahn