News

Foreign Minister on the situation in Egypt

Össur Skarphedinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, is deeply concerned by the situation in Egypt and condemns any use of violence against protesters

Screening meeting on Agriculture and rural development concluded

Screening meeting with the European Union on Chapter 11 – Agriculture and rural development – was concluded in Brussels 27 January. At the meeting, which was the latter one of two, experts from Iceland and the EU compared the Icelandic legislation with the EU legislation falling under the Chapter. The Icelandic team was headed with Mr. Sigurgeir Thorgeirsson, chairman of the negotiation team.<br>

Internet Governance Forum

<p>Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Ministry of the Interior and SAFT (Safer Internet) will host the first Internet Governance Forum on the International Safer Internet Day, on February the 8^th&#160; 2011. ^&#160;</p> <p>^&#160;</p>

Screening meeting on Environment concluded

<p>Screening meeting with the European Union on Chapter 27- Environment – was concluded in Brussels 20 January. At the meeting, which was the latter one of two, experts from Iceland and the EU compared the Icelandic legislation with the legislation of the Chapter. The Icelandic team was headed by Mr. Harald Aspelund, chairman of the EEA II negotiation team. <br> </p>

Screening meeting on science and research concluded

<p dir=ltr>Screening meeting with the European Union on Chapter 25 – Science and research – was concluded in Brussels 14&nbsp;January. At the meeting, the latter one of two, experts from Iceland and the European Union compared the legislation of the Chapter. The Icelandic team was headed by Mr. Harald Aspelund, chairman of the EEA II negotiation team. </p>

Screening meeting on education and culture concluded

<p dir=ltr>Screening meeting with the European Union on Chapter 26 – Education and culture – was concluded in Brussels 14&nbsp;January<b>.</b> At the meeting, which was the latter one of two, experts from Iceland and the EU compared legislation of the Chapter. The Icelandic team was headed by Mr. Harald Aspelund, chairman of the EEA II negotiation team.</p>

Iceland 2020 – governmental policy statement for the economy and community

<p>Iceland aims to become a dynamic society capable of protecting its welfare in a manner that is sustainable and serves all members of the community by the year 2020.</p>

Your rights - Important information for foreign women in Iceland

<p>The Centre for Gender Equality has published a pamphlet for foreign women in Iceland and others who are interested in learning about gender equality in Iceland, rights and obligations.</p>

Treasury finances January-November 2010

Statistics for Treasury finances in January-November 2010 are now available.

Pre-Accession Economic Programme 2011

New Director General of the ICEIDA appointed

<p>The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ossur Skarphedinsson, has appointed Mr. Engilbert Gudmundsson to the position of Director General for the Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA).</p>

Ambassador Kristin A. Arnadottir presents her credentials in Vietnam

<p>On December 9, Ambassador Kristin A. Arnadottir presented her credentials to President Nguyen Minh Triet in Hanoi. Furthermore the Ambassador had meetings with the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Vice-Minister of Industry and Trade and the Vice Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.</p>

Screening meeting on Free movement of goods concluded

<p>The screening of chapter 1 – Free movement of goods – ended last Wednesday in Brussels. At the meeting, which lasted two days, experts from Iceland and the European Union compared the legislation in the chapter. The Icelandic team of experts was headed by Mrs. Bryndis Kjartansdottir, chairperson of the EEA I negotiations team.</p>

Treasury finances January-October 2010

<p>Statistics for Treasury finances in January-October 2010 are now available.</p>

Results of Icesave negotiations presented

The negotiating committees of Iceland, the UK and the Netherlands met in <br>London on Wednesday to discuss issues concerning Icesave. <br>

Iceland´s negotiating committee introduced it´s summary on Icesave

<p>Iceland´s negotiation committee introduced in Reykjavík today, Thursday 8. December, it´s summary on the outcome of the recent discussions on Icesave in London with British and Dutch committees on the matter.</p>

Iceland's negotiating committee introduced it´s summary on Icesave

<p>Iceland's negotiation committee introduced in Reykjavík today, Thursday 8. December, it's summary on the outcome of the recent discussions on Icesave in London with British and Dutch committees on the matter.</p>

Icesave discussed in London

The Icelandic negotiation committee on Icesave is meeting representatives of the British and the Dutch governments today in London in order to continue talks on a possible resolution.&nbsp; <br>

Memorandum of Understanding on measures to address household debt problems

<p>This autumn, the Government initiated a special inquiry into the payment and debt problems of households, focusing on the use of the measures offered and an assessment of other options under discussion.<br> </p>

Screening meeting on Competition policy concluded

<p>The Screening meeting between Iceland and the European Union on chapter 8 – Competition Policy - ended yesterday afternoon in Brussels. At the meeting, which lasted one day, experts from Iceland and the EU compared the legislation of the Competitive law which covers both anti-trust and state aid control policies.…

Study shows culture and creative industries as one of Iceland's biggest economic sectors

<p>The study also shows&#160;that around 6% of the labour force is employed by the creative industries, which makes the creative class"one of the most populous in the country.</p>

Conclusions of the 2020 Moving Iceland Forward initiative

This report presents the principal conclusions of the vast work that has been conducted throughout the country within the framework of the 2020 - Moving Iceland Forward initiative.

Cooperation in advanced technology between Iceland and Japan

Iceland and Japan have decided to enhance cooperation between Icelandic and Japanese business enterprises in energy and advanced green technology.…

Screening meeting on Information society and media concluded

<p>The screening meeting between Iceland and the EU on chapter 10, Information society and media, was concluded yesterday.…

Screening meeting on Company law concluded&nbsp;

<p>Screening meeting, between Iceland and European Union on chapter 6 of the EU acquis, Company law, ended yesterday in Brussels. At the meeting, which went on over the day, experts from Iceland and the European Union compared the legislation of chapter 6.</p>

The labour market in October 2010

The unemployment was 7,5% in October or up from 7,1% in Septembe 2010 but down from 7,6% in October 2009. There were in average 12.062 unemployed persons in Iceland in October.

Current situation on Icesave-talks

<p>In light of recent reports in the Icelandic media on an agreement between Iceland, the Netherlands and the UK, the Icelandic Ministry of Finance would like to emphasize that an agreement between the different parties is yet to be finalized.</p>

First screening meeting between Iceland and the EU

<img alt="rynivinna2" src="http://www.mfa.is/media/utanrikisraduneyti-media/media/myndir/xsmall/rynivinna2.jpg"> <p>Today, the first screening meeting between experts from Iceland and the EU Commission took place in Brussels. The screening meetings are part of the preparation for the forthcoming negotiations on Iceland's membership of the EU.&#160;</p>

Report from&nbsp; a Working Group of Experts appointed by the Prime Minister for an assessment of&nbsp; household debt problems

<p>In consultation between the Government and representatives of the parliamentary opposition it was decided on October 15th to convene a Working Group to assess the cost of various approaches to resolving the problem of household debt.</p>

Treasury finances January-September 2010

Statistics for Treasury finances in January-September 2010 are now available.

Government Policy for Ecological Procurement

<p>The Government of Iceland's policy on ecological procurement, which has now been adopted, prescribes how to integrate environmental views with good procurement principles for government procurement.</p>

EU issues Progress Report on Iceland

The report assesses economic and political development in Iceland from February to October 2010, and recapulates the issues that need to be addressed in the upcoming accession talks.

Furthering Nordic cooperation&nbsp;in foreign affairs and security policy

<p>Statement of the&#160;Foreign Ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden&#160;in Reykjavik on 3 November 2010 on matters of common interest in the area of foreign affairs and security policy.</p>

Foreign Minster meets with Russia's Foreign Minister

<p>The Minister for Foreign Affairs Ossur Skarphedinsson met with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov&nbsp; today in Oslo, Norway. </p>

2011 - Fiscal budget information

<p>Information regarding 2011 budget proposal and 2011 fiscal butget.</p>

Gender equality for a more peaceful world

The five Nordic Foreign Ministers write on the occasion of the 10 year anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1325 on gender equality and peace and security,

Japan-Iceland Geothermal Forum November 16 2010

<p>Based on the geothermal cooperation between Japan and Iceland, the Japan-Iceland Geothermal Forum 2010 presents an update from leading experts in geothermal energy development and utilization issues on the experiences and future challenges in Iceland, Japan and relevant developing countries.<br> </p>

Over 400 graduates of the UN University Geothermal Training Programme

<p>The guiding principle for Iceland´s international development cooperation is to contribute in areas where Iceland has specific expertise and knowledge to offer and geothermal power generation features prominently in such considerations.</p>

The Nordic Youth Research among 16 to 19 year old in Åland Islands, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden

Iceland and Canada sign an agreement on defense cooperation

<img src="/media/utanrikisraduneyti-media/media/Frettatilkynning/small/O.S.-14OKT-2010.jpg" alt="O.S.-14OKT-2010"> <p>Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Peter G. MacKay, Canadian Minister of National Defence, signed an agreement on defence cooperation yearlier today.</p>

Össur Skarphéðinsson attends a NATO meeting of Ministers of Defence and of Foreign Affairs in Brussels

<p>Today, Mr. Össur Skarphedinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended a joint North Atlantic Council in Foreign and Defence Ministers Session in Brussels. The agenda covered the new Strategic Concept, which the NATO Secretary General presented in a draft. The meeting also covered final preparations for the NATO Summit.</p>

Emphasis on Europe

<img src="/media/utanrikisraduneyti-media/media/frambod/small/O.S.-I-Tallinn-2010.jpg" alt="O.S.-I-Tallinn-2010">Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, met Friday with his Estonian counterpart, Urmas Paet, in the Estonian capital, Tallinn. The ministers discussed bilateral relations and security and defense issues.…

Skarphedinsson meets with Foreign Minister Yeo

Össur Skarphedinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, met today with George Yeo, Foreign Minister of Singapore in Reykjavik

Foreign Minister Skarphedinsson addresses EU-Iceland Joint Parliamentary Committee

Ossur Skarphedinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, today addressed the 1st meeting of the EU-Iceland Joint Parliamentary Committee in Reykjavik

Treasury finances January - August 2010

Statistics for Treasury finances in January - August 2010 are now available.

Foreign Minister focuses on human rights, climate change and economy at UN General Assembly

<p>Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, urged Israel not to prevent humanitarian assistance from reaching the needy in Gaza and asked president Ahmadinejad of Iran to spare the life of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, in his speech at the 65. General Assembly of the United Nations</p>

Minister encourages increased cooperation between Russia and NATO

In his speech at the meeting of the NATO-Russia council at the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, Icelandic Foreign Minister Ossur Skarphedinsson focused on increased cooperation between NATO and Russia, and emphasized the shared interests between the two in numerous fields

Rising from the Ruins 1

<p>Causes and consequences of the banks' collapse, Part 1, by Steingrímur J. Sigfússon Minister of Finance.</p>

Rising from the Ruins 3

<p>The Icelandic Economy – Status and outlook at midsummer 2010, Part 3, by Steingrímur J. Sigfússon Minister of Finance.</p>

Rising from the Ruins 4

<p>The tasks ahead, Part 4, by Steingrímur J. Sigfússon Minister of Finance.</p>