The Saami and Sápmiland as an example of the application of Indigenous Rights within the European Union

Abstract: This thesis concerns the relationship of the EU and the Saami indigenous people of Northern Scandinavia and the Kola Peninsula. The thesis highlights the positive and negative features of Sweden and Finland's accession to the European Union in 1995 and Norway's subsequent signing of the European Economic Area agreement. The Saami are Europe's only recognized indigenous group and the accession to the EU brought about a question of potential marginalization within greater Europe. This thesis evaluates the EU and Domestic/Member State level rights provisions for the Saami in comparison to the ILO Convention no. 169 that has come to be recognized as creating the highest international standard of achievement in the recognition of indigenous rights protection. Certain areas of EU law that have significant impact on the Saami will be addressed in greater depth&semic In particular competition provisions that potentially threaten the granting of Saami exclusive rights such as traditional knowledge and free movement provisions that have restored and legally empowered the Saami ability to operate traditional economic activities across national borders. This thesis does not concentrate wholly on either EU law or Saami law it rather seeks to highlight, examine, and postulate the post 1995 nexus of effects between the EU Law and the indigenous rights of the Saami people.