News

The Arctic States sign an agreement on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response

An agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response was signed, Wednesday 15 May, at the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Kiruna, Sweden

Iceland Responds to One-Sided Decision by Marine Conservation Society Regarding Sustainable Mackerel Fishing

<p>The following statement has been issued by Steingrímur J. Sigfússon, Minister of Industries and Innovation, Government of Iceland, in response to the Marine Conservation Society's decision to re-list Icelandic mackerel as a ‘fish to avoid'.…

Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme (GEST) Joins the UN University Network

<p>A trilateral agreement between the University of Iceland, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland and the UN Universities (UNU) has been signed, formalising the Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme's (GEST) membership in the UNU network.</p>

RESPONSE TO EUROPEAN FISH COUNCIL MEETING, 14 MAY 2013 -&nbsp;Statement from Steingrímur J. Sigfússon, Minister of Industries and Innovation

<p>With the European Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels today to discuss mackerel catch levels, Iceland continues to ask the Coastal States to return to the negotiating table to reach a fair solution to this dispute. Mackerel is a precious resource for Iceland and our fellow Coastal States, including the European Union, Norway and the Faroe Islands.…

Application for Icelandic citizenship - New point of contact

<p>Please be adviced that from the 1st of May 2013 applications and inquiries for Icelandic citizenship should be delivered to the Directorate of Immigration.</p>

Plan of Action on Gender Equality Regarding Wages

This Plan of Action on Gender Equality Regarding Wages is for four years, i.e. until the end of 2016. The aim is that by that time, the gender-based wage differentials that exist on the Icelandic labour market shall have been reduced considerably.

Response to notification from the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) of formal investigation of Iceland's investment incentives scheme

The Ministry of Industries and Innovation has expressed its objections to the decision by the EFTA Surveillance Authority, ESA, to open a formal investigation of the implementation of the scheme providing incentives for new investment in Iceland.

Treasury Finances January-March 2013

<p>Statistics for Treasury finances for January-March 2013 are now available.</p>

An Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce

A MoU on the establishment of an Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce has been signed, formal launch planned for Mid-May.<br>

Reykjavik rising: Public Service Review: Europe - Issue 25

<p>Iceland's healthcare system ranks among the best in Europe, but challenges remain, writes Minister of Welfare Gubjartur Hannesson...</p>

Iceland First European Country to Sign Free Trade Agreement with China

<p>A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Iceland and China was signed today in Beijing by Mr. Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Iceland, and Mr. Gao Hucheng, Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Iceland and the Premier of China.</p>

The Prime Ministers of Iceland and China issue a Joint Statement

<p>The official visit of the Prime Minister of Iceland, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, at the invitation of the Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, commenced today.</p>

Iceland to Join the NATO Cyber Defence Centre in Tallinn

<p>Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson announced Iceland's decision to join the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn during a meeting on 10 April with Estonia's Foreign Minister, Urmas Paet.</p>

A letter from the Committee of representatives of parliamentary groups on removal of currency controls

<p>The Committee of representatives of parliamentary groups on removal of currency controls has sent a letter to the Minstry of Finance and Economic Affairs and party leaders.</p>

International Conference - Human Rights Protection &amp; International Law

<p>The international conference “Human Rights Protection and International Law: The Dilemma of Restraining and Promoting International Intervention” will take place at the Harpa Conference Center (<em>Norðurljós</em>) on 11–12 April 2013.&#160; Sponsored by the Icelandic Ministry of the Interior and the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin in cooperation with the EDDA Center at the University…

The Prime Minister on an official visit to China

<p>The Prime Minister of Iceland, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, and her wife, Jónína Leósdóttir, will be on an official visit to China on 15-18 April. The Prime Minister was invited by former Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, in his official visit to Iceland in April last year.</p>

The Treasury's Medium Term Debt Management Strategy for 2013-2016

<p>The Medium Term Debt Management Strategy 2013-2016 sets forth the Government‘s plans for debt financing plans for the specified period.</p>

Estonia offers Iceland facilities in Beijing

<p>Yesterday the Foreign Ministers of Iceland and Estonia, Össur Skarphéðinsson and Urmas Paet, signed a cooperation agreement regarding the location of the Icelandic Embassy in Estonia´s chancery building in Beijing</p>

Treasury finances January 2013

Statistics for Treasury finances for January 2013 are now available.

Minister announces contract for building Iceland's first platform supply vessel

<p>Today, at a meeting in Fosnavåg, Norway, Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson announced that a private Icelandic oil service company had made a contract for building Iceland's first platform supply vessel for servicing oil search and offshore fields north of Iceland</p>

Observer applications reflecting Arctic Council strength

Foreign Ministers Össur Skarphéðinsson, and Carl Bildt, met in Iceland on Monday, discussing future developments in the Arctic and the necessity for the Arctic nations to prepare for increased activities and rising worldwide interest in the region.

Foreign Minister meets with Director of Polar institute of China

In a meeting in Reykjavik on 15 March, Foreign Ministers Össur Skarphéðinsson and Dr. Huigen Yang, Director of the Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, discussed the potential of&nbsp; opening of sea routes across the Arctic Ocean.

Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy 2013-2016

Increased emphasis on cooperation with states and institutions on geothermal issues

<p>Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson and Dr. Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Managing Director of the World Bank, spoke at the opening of an international geothermal conference in Reykjavik, where Dr. Mulyani announced the launching of a Global Geothermal Development Plan&#160; with the goal to mobilize $500 million.<br> </p>

Foreign Minister and World Bank Managing Director discuss geothermal issues

<p>Foreign Minister, Össur Skarphéðinsson, met with Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Managing Director at the World Bank during her visit to Iceland. She is a keynote speaker at the Iceland Geothermal Conference 2013 which is held in Reykjavik on March 5-8. <br> <br> </p>

Advertisement - General parliamentary elections

<p>With reference to Art. 45 of the Constitution of the Republic of Iceland, No. 33 of 17 June 1944 (<em>cf.</em> Art. 15 of the Constitutional Law Act, No. 56 of 31 May 1991, Art. 20 of the General Elections Act, No. 24 of 16 May 2000 and Art. 162 of the Act No. 162 of 28 December 2010), it is hereby decided that regular general parliamentary elections shall be held on 27 April 2013.</p>

Treasury Finances January-December 2012

<p>Statistics for Treasury finances for January-December 2012 are now available.</p>

Vacancy Announcement Position of Executive Secretary in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO).

<p>Deadline for application is 15 May 2013.</p>

Annual report on foreign and international affairs by the Minister for Foreign Affairs

<p>Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, has submitted his annual report on foreign and international affairs to the Icelandic parliament, Althingi, his fifth since he took office in early 2009</p>

Foreign Ministers of Iceland and Lithuania meet

Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson met with Linas Linkevicius, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, in Brussels on February 18.

Increased emphasis on Arctic affairs within the Northern Dimension

Össur Skarphéðinsson, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, emphasised&nbsp; that Arctic affairs should have more prominence within the Northern Dimension at the initiative's meeting in Brussels.

Launch of Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network and arrival of first Nansen Professor

The main aim of the IACN is to increase the visibility and understanding of Arctic issues and create a link between the institutes and individuals working on those issues in Iceland. IACN's first director is Embla Eir Oddsdóttir, who has extensive experience in the field of Arctic research.

Letter of Credence presented in Phnom Penh

Ambassador Kristin A. Arnadottir presented a Letter of Credence to Heng Samrin, Chairman of the National Assembly of Cambodia, residing in Beijing, on 28 January 2013 in Phnom Penh.

Ministry hands in Pre-Accession Economic Programme to the EU

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has handed in a Pre-Accession Economic Programme to the EU Commission. <br>

Iceland Lowers 2013 Mackerel Fishing Quota by 15 Percent in Line with Scientific Recommendations

<p>The Icelandic Ministry of Industries and Innovation today announced the country's 2013 fishing quota for mackerel, lowering the catch to 123,182 tons.…

Iceland welcomes acquittal in Icesave case

<p>The EFTA Court ruling on Icesave rejected all claims by the EFTA Surveillance Authority that Iceland should be declared in breach of the EEA Agreement. The Court rejected the claim that Iceland has breached the Deposit Guarantee Directive or has discriminated against depositors contrary to EEA law.<br> </p>

A statement from Katrín Júlíusdóttir,&nbsp;the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs

<p>I&#160;welcome the EFTA Court's ruling on the Icesave issue. Having this issue unresolved has hampered the economic recovery of Iceland where steady progress has been made nonetheless.</p>

Iceland welcomes acquittal in Icesave case&nbsp;

<p>The EFTA Court ruling on Icesave rejected all claims by the EFTA Surveillance Authority that Iceland should be declared in breach of the EEA Agreement. The Court rejected the claim that Iceland has breached the Deposit Guarantee Directive or has discriminated against depositors contrary to EEA law.…

Iceland welcomes acquittal in Icesave case&nbsp;

The EFTA Court ruling on Icesave rejected all claims by the EFTA Surveillance Authority that Iceland should be declared in breach of the EEA Agreement. The Court rejected the claim that Iceland has breached the Deposit Guarantee Directive or has discriminated against depositors contrary to EEA law.

"A fisheries stand-off won't solve the problem"

"We are ready to sit down with Scotland, and all the Coastal States involved, to discuss the facts behind this debate. We all need to ensure the mackerel stock remains at a healthy level for generations to come" says Steingrimur J. Sigfusson Minister of Industries and Innovation in an article in The Scotsman.

Minister Skarphéðinsson meets with Irish Minister for European Affairs

The Ministers discussed EU Affairs, mackerel and Icesave. <br>

Permanent Secretariat of Arctic Council established in Tromsoe

<p>Espen Barth Eide, Foreign Minister of Norway and Magnús Jóhannesson, the first director of the Arctic Council‘s permanent secretariat, signed a Host Country Agreement between Norway and the Arctic Council at ceremony yesterday in Tromsö</p>

STATEMENT FROM THE ICELANDIC MINISTER OF INDUSTRIES AND INNOVATION

It is with disappointment that we now learn that the EU and Norway have again claimed 90 percent of the scientifically recommended 2013 total mackerel catch, leaving only 10 percent for the other Coastal States, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, as well as Russia.

Iceland supports humanitarian efforts in Syria

Iceland will contribute 190,000 USD towards the emergency and humanitarian assistance being provided by the United Nations to civilians fleeing the conflict in Syria.…

Minister Skarphéðinsson meets Leona Aglukkaq, Canada‘s Minister of the Arctic Council

<p>The ministers discussed cooperation between the countries and the their policies within the Arctic Council as Canada will take on the chairmanship of the Arctic Council at the council's ministerial meeting in Kiruna May 15</p>

Agreement on management of EU accession negotiations in the run-up to parliamentary elections

The coalition parties in Iceland have reached&#160;an agreement&#160;on the continuation of Iceland's accession negotiations in the run up to the parliamentary elections this spring.

Agreement between the coalition parties on management of the EU accession negotiations in the run-up to the parliamentary elections

The agreement between the government coalition parties at the start of the electoral term is based on the democratic principle that it should be the nation itself which takes the decision in this matter.

Pre-Accession Economic Programme 2013

Treasury finances January-November 2012

<p>Statistics for Treasury finances for January-November 2012 are now available.</p>

Judgment in the Icesave court case due on January 28

<p>The judgment of the EFTA Court in the so-called Icesave case will be delivered on the 28^th of January.</p>