The non-binding referendum was on expanded home rule in 30 areas, including police, courts, and the coast guard; gave Greenland a say in foreign policy; provided a more definite split of future oil revenue; and made the Greenlandic language the sole official language.

In 1979, it was made an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, with a parliament and local control of health care, schools, and social services.

There has been some movement towards independence, encouraged by Denmark but held back by Greenland's need for economic subsidies.

MP Søren Espersen from the Danish People's Party controversially claimed that Greenlanders had been "brainwashed with unprecedented propaganda" and that he believed "huge problems are waiting in the future".

[10] The Greenlandic government was pursuing future independence,[11] and the result was seen by some observers as a "major step" in that direction.