News

Joint statement by the Prime Ministers of the Nordic countries and Canada

Following a meeting in Oslo on 15 March 2026, the Prime Ministers of the Nordic Countries and Canada issued a joint statement.

Government proposes referendum on whether to return to EU accession talks

The Government of Iceland has today decided to put to Althingi, the Icelandic parliament, a motion for resolution proposing to hold a referendum on 29 August 2026 on whether to resume accession talks with the European Union (EU).

Joint Statement by the Nordic-Baltic leaders on Ukraine

The Leaders of the Nordic and Baltic states, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden on 10 August 2025 issued a Joint Statement on Ukraine.

Joint Statement on Palestine

Joint Statement on Palestine.

Joint press statement from the Joint Expeditionary Force Leaders’ Summit

Joint press statement from the Joint Expeditionary Force Leaders’ Summit in Oslo on May 9 2025.

Minister for Foreign Affairs introduces Iceland's fourth National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security

Iceland’s fourth National Action Plan (NAP) on Women Peace and Security has been published. The NAP sets out the government’s policy for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and the broader Women, Peace and Security Agenda until 2030.

Joint statement of the leaders of Ukraine and Nordic-Baltic Eight

Joint statement of the leaders of Ukraine and Nordic-Baltic Eight on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine.

Nordic-Baltic leaders’ statement on Ukraine

Nordic-Baltic leaders’ statement (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, 14 February 2025)

New Icelandic Government takes office

A Government consisting of the Social Democratic Alliance, the Liberal Reform Party and the People‘s Party took office today. The new government is headed by Kristrún Frostadóttir, the chairman of the Social Democratic Alliance.

Declaration by the Nordic Prime Ministers

Declaration from the Nordic Prime Ministers meeting in Reykjavik 29 October

Statement at the fourth Nordic-Ukrainian Summit

At the fourth Nordic-Ukrainian Summit in Thingvellir on 28 October, the Prime Ministers of Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden and the President of Ukraine issued the following statement:

Volodymyr Zelensky to visit Iceland

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will arrive in Iceland tomorrow. President Zelensky will meet with Prime Minister of Iceland, Bjarni Benediktsson, and participate in the fourth Nordic-Ukrainian summit.

Prime Minister hands in Government‘s resignation

Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson today met with President Halla Tómasdóttir to deliver his Government‘s resignation.

Iceland increases contributions to UNRWA

Today, the Minister of Education and Children's Affairs, Ásmundur Einar Daðason attended on behalf of the Prime Minister of Iceland the Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response conference in Jordan.

Joint statement of the Nordic-Ukrainian Summit in Stockholm

At the third Nordic-Ukrainian Summit in Stockholm on 31 May 2024, the Prime Ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland and the Presidents of Ukraine and Finland issued the following statement:

Reykjanes Volcanic Eruption: Icelandic Government Advice

On Sunday 14 January, at 07:57, a further volcanic eruption began north of the town of Grindavík on the Reykjanes peninsula.

Reykjanes Volcanic Eruption: Icelandic Government Advice

Monday, at 22:17, a volcanic eruption began northeast of the town of Grindavík on the Reykjanes peninsula. This is the fourth eruption since 2021 in the area, and the largest so far with an initial fissure opening of 4 km.

Joint Statement of the Nordic-Ukrainian Summit in Oslo

At the second Nordic-Ukrainian Summit in Oslo 13 December, the Prime Minister of Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden and the President of Finland and Ukraine issued the following statement:

Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Prize for Women's Empowerment open for nominations

Nominations are now open for the Vigdís Finnbogadóttir's Prize for Women's Empowerment. The award was established in Reykjavík last May on the eve of the Council of Europe summit.

Construction started on barrier to protect the power plant in Svartsengi

Construction has started on a barrier to protect the power plant in Svartsengi from the possible consequences of a volcanic eruption.

Seismic activity in Reykjanes

Icelandic Civil Protection authorities have declared a state of emergency following increased seismic activity in Reykjanes Peninsula. During last night the town of Grindavik was evacuated as a preventive measure.

Nordic digital resilience

U.S.-Nordic Leaders’ Summit in Helsinki, 13 July 2023

On 13 July 2023, the Presidents of Finland and the United States and the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden met in Helsinki for the third U.S.-Nordic Leaders’ Summit.

Icelandic Government advice following a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula

Today, at 16:40 GMT, a volcanic eruption started when lava began flowing from a ground fissure measuring about one kilometer long, between Litli-Hrútur peak and Mt. Keilir on the Reykjanes peninsula. The site of the eruption is close to where similar eruptions have occurred twice in the past two years.

Joint Statement by the Prime Ministers of the Nordic countries and Canada

Joint Statement by the Prime Ministers of the Nordic countries and Canada following their meeting in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, 26 June 2023.

Nordic Prime Ministers joined by Prime Minister of Canada at annual meeting

On June 25-26th, the annual summer meeting of the Nordic Prime Ministers will be held in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a special guest.

Prime Minister of Iceland nominated as WHO Champion

Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, has been appointed WHO Champion for the Well-being Economy Initiative for the next two years. The initiative aims to shift attention to actions that improve the well-being of our societies and ensure a healthy, fairer and prosperous future for the coming generations.

Accountability for Ukraine and democracy top agenda of the Reykjavík Summit ​

Today, the Reykjavík Summit, the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe member States, concluded with important decisions in support of Ukraine and the core values of the Council of Europe of human rights, democracy and rule of law.

Reykjavik Summit of the Council of Europe has started ​

Accountability for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the promotion and protection of the core values of the Council of Europe are the main topics of the Summit of the Council of Europe, which started today in Reykjavik.…

Reykjavik Summit of the Council of Europe 16-17 May​

The fourth Summit of the Council of Europe takes place in Reykjavík next week. On the meeting’s agenda is the establishment of a Register to record the damage caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and to reaffirm the importance of the core values of the Council of Europe. Careful preparations are in place for the meeting and disruptions of traffic can be expected while it is ongoing.

Iceland in Fifth Place on ILGA‘s Rainbow Map and First Place on the Transgender Europe Map

Iceland holds the 5th place on ILGA‘s Rainbow Map and the first place on the Transgender Europe Map. The results were presented today at the annual IDAHOT+ Forum hosted by Iceland, taking place in Harpa.

International Wellbeing and Sustainability Forum held in Reykjavík 14-15th June

The Prime Minister's Office in cooperation with the Directorate of Health and the City of Reykjavík are organizing an International Wellbeing and Sustainability Forum in Harpa in Reykjavík on the 14-15th of June.

Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs visited Ukraine and met with Volodomyr Zelensky

Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir and Minister for Foreign Affairs Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir met with President of Ukraine Volodomyr Zelensky in Kyiv yesterday.

Iceland’s 6th periodic report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe held in Iceland

The fourth Summit in the history of the Council of Europe will be held in Iceland on May 16-17, 2023. The Prime Minister of Iceland and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland today announced the official decision by the Council of Europe to convene a Summit under Iceland’s Presidency. The Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland will host the Summit.

Iceland’s Presidency in the Nordic Council of Ministers 2023

Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir has presented the programme for the Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers for 2023. The Prime Minister presented the one-year Presidency programme to the Session of the Nordic Council that took place in Helsinki this week. Iceland will take over the Presidency from Norway on 1 January 2023.

Declaration on Future Cooperation between Greenland and Iceland

Today, the prime minister of Greenland Mr. Múte B. Egede and the Prime Minister of Iceland Ms. Katrín Jakobsdóttir signed a declaration in Reykjavik on future cooperation between the two countries. In it, the ministers reaffirm their commitment to further strengthen and expand the bilateral relations between Greenland and Iceland.

Gender Equality Forum focuses on the status of women of foreign origin in the Icelandic labour market

Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir convenes the 2022 Gender Equality Forum in Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center on October 26th. The theme for discussion will be the status of women of foreign origin in the Icelandic labour market, with special emphasis on access, opportunities and obstacles.

A small volcanic eruption in southwest Iceland

At 13:18 GMT today lava began flowing from a ground fissure around Fagradalsfjall near the town of Grindavík on the Reykjanes peninsula. The eruption follows intense seismic activity over the past few days.

Iceland to host the IDAHOT+Forum in 2023

The annual IDAHOT+Forum will be held in Iceland in May 2023 in connection with the Icelandic Presidency of the Council of Europe starting this November.

Iceland jumps up five places and into top ten on the Rainbow Europe Map

Iceland is now ranked number nine on ILGA-Europe‘s annual Rainbow Map, moving up five places between years.

Statement by Denmark, Iceland and Norway on Finland and Sweden’s decision to apply for NATO membership

The prime ministers of Denmark, Iceland and Norway have issued a joint statement welcoming the decisions of Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership, and emphasising that the Nordic countries all share the values and principles of the Alliance:

Iceland's support for Ukraine reaches one billion ISK

Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir attended the High-Level International Donors’ Conference for Ukraine which took place in Warsaw earlier this month. At the conference, Prime Minister Jakobsdóttir announced a significant increase in Iceland's humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine with an additional contribution of 425 million ISK.…

President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s address to the Icelandic Parliament

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, addressed members of the Icelandic Parliament (Althingi), the President of Iceland and the Government of Iceland in a live video address at a special session of Althingi on Friday 6 May. He was the first ever foreign head of state to address the Parliament of Iceland.

Prime Minister Jakobsdóttir attended Nordic-India Summit

Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir participated in a Nordic-India Summit in Copenhagen yesterday. At the summit the prime ministers of the five Nordic countries met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Iceland to welcome up to 140 vulnerable refugees from Ukraine

More than 820 individuals from Ukraine have already applied for protection in Iceland.

The Minister of Justice permits temporary protection due to mass flight

Article 44 of the Foreign Nationals Act activated in light of Russian invasion of Ukraine

Iceland strongly condemns Russia’s attacks on Ukraine

The Government of Iceland strongly condemns Russia’s attacks on Ukraine and expresses deep concern for the destruction and suffering that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will inevitably cause.

COVID-19: Border measures remain unchanged until the end of February

Regulation on COVID-19 measures at the border will remain unchanged until 28 February. Proposals on measures for the spring will be introduced no later than 20 February.

Second Government of Katrín Jakobsdóttir Takes Office

The State Council held two meetings at the President’s residence at Bessastaðir today. At the former meeting the President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, accepted the resignation of the first government headed by Katrín Jakobsdóttir. The second government headed by Katrín Jakobsdóttir was then officially installed in office at the latter meeting.