Faroese MP attacks government over defence deal briefing

Faroese MP Jenis av Rana has sharply criticised the government for failing to properly brief Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee about a forthcoming defence agreement between the Faroe Islands and Denmark, Kringvarp Føroya reports.

Av Rana, a representative of Miðflokkurin and a member of the committee, said during a parliamentary debate that the committee should have received better information after Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Bruus announced the agreement.

Jørgen Niclasen, the committee’s chair, disagreed. He said the government was not obliged to inform the committee in this case and that the issue was based on a misunderstanding.

Av Rana also referred to a letter from the Parliamentary Office that committee members received in connection with changes to Parliament’s rules of procedure. Both politicians cited provisions in the Governance Act, but interpreted them differently.

According to Niclasen, the issue appears to concern inaccurate information from the Danish foreign minister rather than a lack of information from the Faroese government.