We consider a vector-Laplace problem posed on a 2D surface embedded in a 3D
domain, which results from the modeling of surface fluids based on exterior
Cartesian differential operators. The main topic of this paper is the
development and analysis of a finite element method for the discretization of
this surface partial differential equation. We apply the trace finite element
technique, in which finite element spaces on a background shape-regular
tetrahedral mesh that is surface-independent are used for discretization. In
order to satisfy the constraint that the solution vector field is tangential to
the surface we introduce a Lagrange multiplier. We show well-posedness of the
resulting saddle point formulation. A discrete variant of this formulation is
introduced which contains suitable stabilization terms and is based on trace
finite element spaces. For this method we derive optimal discretization error
bounds. Furthermore algebraic properties of the resulting discrete saddle point
problem are studied. In particular an optimal Schur complement preconditioner
is proposed. Results of a numerical experiment are included