STATE EXPENDITURE IN GREENLAND

 

State expenditure, excluding block grants and other expenditure concerning Greenland, can be divided into a number of areas and attributed to a number of ministries.

 

There may be problems of delimitation with respect to which expenses actually concern Greenland. In the statistics for the public finances of Greenland, only expenses incurred near or in Greenland are included. This delimitation is in accordance with the international guidelines under the European System of Accounts (ESA 95).

 

The primary responsibility of the state in Greenland is the defence and the safeguarding of order and security (the police and the judicial system).

 

The defence includes Island Command Greenland, the Sirius Patrol, and fisheries inspection performed by the Navy and the Air Force.

 

Among the other activities are the Danish Maritime Agency and the High Commissioner, the National Environmental Research Institute, the National Institute of Aquatic Resources, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA), the Danish Working Environment Authority, and the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI).

 

An overview of state spending in Greenland can be seen in Overview 1 and in Table 15 with spending by ministry.

 

Overview 1

State Expenditure Concerning Greenland

 

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

 

                                      DKK million                                                                           

Total

3.611

3.665

3.767

3.886

4.019

Total of transfers from the Danish state

3.041

3.100

3.151

3.226

3.330

Block grant

3.006

3.069

3.120

3.202

3.301

Other transfers

35

32

32

24

29

Total state expenditure in Greenland 1)

570

564

616

660

689

Public service

474

479

510

539

587

General affairs

53

57

55

95

82

Defence

220

228

231

183

236

Public order and security

200

194

224

260

269

Economic affairs

38

33

50

63

60

General affairs within economy, trade, and labour market

23

23

27

28

29

Transport, communication, other sectors

13

9

21

33

30

R & D in economical matters

1

1

1

1

1

Environmental protection

41

35

38

40

23

Other expenses

18

18

18

19

20

Notes: 1) Expenses paid by the Danish state near and in Greenland. Please note that income is not included in this overview.

Source: Statistics Greenland