News

Iceland supports international measures against ISIS

<p>Iceland is a country with no standing military forces and will therefore not contribute to any military action but by contributing humanitarian assistance.</p>

International conference on gender equality in the Arctic

The conference will focus on the living condition of women and men throughout the Circumpolar North, addressing access to and control over resources, representation in decision-making positions, political participation, regional development, human security, and material and cultural well-being

Iceland's guardians meet in Reykjavik

Over 130 Honorary Consuls of Iceland from 57 countries are attending a consular conference in Reykjavik, hosted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The purpose is to strengthen the relationship with these guardians of Iceland‘s interest abroad.

Treasury finances January-August 2014

<p>Statistics for Treasury finances for January - August 2014 are now available.</p>

Tómas H. Heiðar takes office at ITLOS

<p>Today Mr. Tomas Heidar took office as Judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg. Judge Heidar was elected to serve a term of nine years on 11 June 2014.&#160;</p>

Changing the discourse between men on gender equality

<p>During his UN General Assembly address earlier this week, Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson announced the Barbershop Conference in January 2015, an initiative that Iceland has taken with Suriname. The aim is to activate men and boys in the fight for gender equality.</p>

International community must continue its fight against poverty and inequality

Icelandic Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson addressed the UN General Assembly yesterday.&nbsp;

Statement by Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson at UN Climate Summit

<p>Statement by Prime Minister of Iceland at UN Climate Summit in New York in September 2014.</p>

Security situation in Europe discussed by Nordic-Baltic Foreign Ministers

<p>Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson participated in a meeting of the Nordic-Baltic Foreign Ministers in Tallinn today.</p>

Financial Stability Council commences work

<p>The first meeting of the Financial Stability Council was held in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs on Wednesday, 10 September 2014.</p>

Iceland reinforces its participation in NATO

<p>Iceland reinforces its participation in NATO5.9. 2014The NATO Summit in Newport, Wales, concluded this afternoon. Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson and Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson participated in the meetings on Iceland´s behalf.</p>

Iceland reinforces its participation in NATO

<p>Iceland reinforces its participation in NATO5.9. 2014The NATO Summit in Newport, Wales, concluded this afternoon. Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson and Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson participated in the meetings on Iceland´s behalf.</p>

Minutes of the Meeting of the Financial Stability Council of 10 September 2014

<p>Members of the Council: Bjarni Benediktsson, Chairman; Már Guðmundsson, Unnur Gunnarsdóttir.</p>

Policy Statement by the Prime Minister at the opening of the 144th&nbsp;legislative session of the Althingi

<p>Policy Statement by Prime Minister, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, at the opening of the 144th legislative session of the Althingi, 9 September 2014</p>

Arctic Economic Council established

Iceland has nominated two representatives to the Council.

Situation in Ukraine discussed at NATO summit

Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson and Foreign Minster Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson attend the meeting

Annual meeting of Hoyvik Council of Iceland and Faroe Islands

<p>Alega Hammond, Prime Minister of Greenland, attended the meeting as an observer.</p>

Positive results from the co-ordinated Nordic Mackerel Survey

<p>The marine research institutes of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Norway have issued a report on the annual co-ordinated mackerel trawl survey in the Nordic Seas which was conducted in July and August as in previous years.</p>

Policy on Youthwork 2014 -2018

Government Accounts for 2013

<p>The results of Government Accounts for 2013 have now been published and the accounts forwarded to the Althingi.</p>

Letter sent to the Prime Minister of Israel

The Prime Minister of Iceland, Mr. Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, has today sent the Prime Minister of Israel a letter outlining the Icelandic Government´s gravest concerns about the situation in Gaza where a large number of innocent civilians has lost their lives

Appeal to the UN Security Council to find a permanent solution in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict

During an open session of the UN Security Council in New York on the political situation in the Middle East, Iceland condemned both the Israeli Defence Force and Hamas and other militant organisations in Gaza for violating international humanitarian law. In her statement to the Security Council,&nbsp;

Foreign Minister allocates Emergency Aid for Gaza

Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson has allocated 12 million ISK as Emergency Aid to two UN organisations that operate in Gaza due to the acute and deteriorating humanitarian situation the Gaza conflict.

Statement on events in Ukraine&nbsp;

<p>Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, expresses condolences to the families and friends of the people on board the Malaysia Airlines plane that was shot down over Eastern Ukraine.</p>

Minister Sveinsson meets with the President of Ukraine

<p>Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, met today with Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine, and Pavlo Klimkin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Kyiv. Minister Sveinsson is on a two day visit to Ukraine together with Edgars &#160;Rinkēvičs, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia.</p>

A report by Þórir Guðmundsson on development cooperation submitted

<p>Þórir Guðmundsson has submitted a report to Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the organisation of development cooperation, peacekeeping and humanitarian and emergency assistance with a view to reinforcing effectiveness and efficiency within the area, prepared by him on the minister's request.</p> <br>

Agreement with Advisors to Work on Removal of Capital Controls

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has, in consultation with the Ministerial Committee on Economic Affairs and the Steering Group on Removal of Capital Controls, reached an agreement with the legal office Cleary Gottlieb Steen &amp; Hamilton LLP and the consultants White Oak Advisory LLP to assist the Icelandic authorities in removing capital controls.…

Land restoration to be part of new UN development agenda

<p>Foreign Minister&#160; Sveinsson discussed desertification, land degradation and drought at the United Nations High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the new development framework.</p> <p></p>

Turning point in foreigners' affairs

<p><img src="/media/innanrikisraduneyti-media/media/frettir-2014/small/MG2608.JPG" alt="Innanríkisráðherra og framkvæmdastjóri Rauða krossins á Íslandi skrifuðu undir samstarfssamninginn í dag." title="Innanríkisráðherra og framkvæmdastjóri Rauða krossins á Íslandi skrifuðu undir samstarfssamninginn í dag.">In order to expedite the processing of applications for asylum, improve case handling…

Catch Quotas in Icelandic waters in accordance with scientific advice

<p>The Icelandic Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Mr. Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson, announced the total allowable catch for all stocks in Icelandic jurisdiction for next fishing season in Iceland today. The Minister follows exactly the scientific advice given by the Icelandic Marine Research Institute for all species, as indeed he did last year.</p>

NORWEGIAN-ICELANDIC JOINT STATEMENT ON NORWEGIAN SPRING-SPAWNING (ATLANTO-SCANDIAN) HERRING

The Ministers are surprised that the EU and the Faroe Islands have had ”long and intensive negotiations” on the Faroese catch level of herring in 2014, without consulting the other parties concerned.

Foreign Minister in China to promote trade

<p>Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson is currently visiting China, accompanied by a trade delegation representing Icelandic Business and Industry.</p>

Presentation for EU Ambassadors 16 June 2014

<p>A few comments on Foreign Policy issues by Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson</p>

Iceland Supports Ukrainian Peace Plan

Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson welcomes the Peace Plan by the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko

Address by Prime Minister, Mr Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, at Austurvöllur, 17 June 2014

<p>"On this National Day we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Iceland. Looking back over these seven decades, we can certainly say that the venture has been a success."</p>

Tomas Heidar elected judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

<p>Mr. Heidar will join the Tribunal on 1 October 2014 for a nine-year term. He has been Legal Adviser since 1996 and is also the Director of the Law of the Sea Institute of Iceland.&#160;</p>

Increased cooperation between Iceland and Maine

Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Paul LePage, Governor of Maine signed today a MoU between Iceland and Maine, paving the way for increased cooperation in the fields of business cooperation and development, transport and logistics and culture.

Foreign minister meets with Poland‘s &nbsp;deputy prime minister

At the ministers‘ meeting in Warsaw, ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two states by means of EEA Grants<b>&nbsp;</b>were discussed, especially in the field of geothermal energy.

Iceland‘s experience of land restoration can prove useful

Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification met with foreign minister, Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson.&nbsp;

Free trade agreement between Iceland and China to enter into force on 1 July 2014

The central aim of the Iceland-China free trade agreement is to promote trade by abolishing tariffs on imports and to further enhance economic ties between the two countries

Iceland—Concluding Statement of the Fourth Post-Program Monitoring MissionReykjavik

Iceland's economy is recovering well. To sustain progress, policies must continue to address the legacies of the financial crisis.

The Icelandic national curriculum guide for compulsory schools - with Subjects Areas

Design as a Driver for Future - Icelandic Design Policy 2014-2018

OECD publishes economic forecast for Iceland

<p>Economic growth in Iceland was considerably more robust than expected in 2013, reflecting strong exports and buoyant tourist spending, according to Economic Outlook May 2014, published by OECD today.</p>

Bills&nbsp;on reducing household mortgage debt

<p>The Goverment has presented to the Icelandic parliament two bills of legislation which will reduce household mortgage debt in Iceland and make it easier for first time buyers to purchase housing.</p>

Nordic Foreign Ministers meet in Iceland

Iceland‘s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, will host a Nordic Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Reykholt on 29–30 April.

Iceland announces a restrained and responsible mackerel quota for the 2014 season

The Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture today announced Iceland's 2014 mackerel quota, setting the catch quota at 147,574 tons. This represents a 16,6% share of the total mackerel catch recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) – or just 11.9% of the 1,240,000 tonnes recently decided by the EU, Norway and the Faeroes.

Overseas absentee voting for the Local Government Elections

<p>Overseas absentee voting for the Local Government Elections of 31 May 2014 will begin on 7 April and ballots can be cast in all Icelandic embassies abroad and in the offices of consuls-general.</p>

Iceland and Greenland – Collaboration in the North

<p>Opening address by Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, at a seminar at Nordic House Reykjavik, April 1, 2014.</p>

Fisheries Management Plan – Golden Redfish

<p></p> <p>The management of fisheries in Iceland is the responsibility of the Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture. The management is based on law. Regulations are issued annually and they can be different between years.</p>