The Faroe Islands government will undergo its most significant administrative overhaul in decades by cutting three ministries. Prime Minister Aksel V. Johannesen confirmed the changes following recommendations from a reform committee that spent two months studying how to streamline public administration. The move reduces the number of ministries from nine to six, marking the first major restructuring since the 1990s.
The fisheries and infrastructure ministry, children and education ministry, and justice ministry will all be dissolved effective December 1. Their ministers and department heads will lose their current positions as responsibilities shift to remaining departments.
A local journalist covering the announcement explained the redistribution of responsibilities. 'When reducing from nine to six ministries, the portfolio areas are distributed differently. The biggest merger combines health and social affairs ministries, which together handle roughly half of the budget,' he noted.
The reform committee argues that fewer, larger ministries will create greater efficiency. 'Too many ministries complicate cross-cutting work and coordination,' their recommendation states. 'Setting the number of ministries at six would create more stability, keeping the same government posts consistent after each election.'
Political scientists describe the move as 'quite ambitious' and note this represents only the first phase of planned reforms. The committee will examine municipal structures next and present additional proposals early next year.
The restructuring includes changing the Faroe Islands' Government Act, which currently specifies the government consists of the prime minister and at least two ministers. The amendment would cap the number of ministers at five besides the prime minister and specify the permanent ministries.
Changing the Government Act requires significant political consensus, as two consecutive parliamentary sessions must approve any amendments. This difficulty reflects the law's design, similar to constitutions, to prevent frequent changes.
Experts highlight the stability benefits of this approach. 'There's been a tendency for new governments to reshuffle ministries, sometimes increasing them, sometimes decreasing them, with staff moving between departments,' explained a university social science lecturer. 'The problem is it takes time to build expertise in an area when we don't have many experts. If someone leaves, you must start over. Constant reorganization creates problems.'
The reform enjoys broad political support, with both major opposition parties backing the prime minister's decision to follow the committee's recommendations. The government estimates the changes will save approximately 20 million kroner annually.
The background for reducing ministries stems from broader societal concerns about economic sustainability. An aging population and shrinking workforce have prompted discussions about restructuring public services to prevent future shocks when demographic pressures intensify.
From December 1, the Faroese government will consist of the prime minister's office and five permanent ministries: Social and Health Affairs, Education and Culture, and Foreign Affairs and Environment among them. This consolidation represents a fundamental shift toward more stable, efficient governance for the North Atlantic nation.