News

Iceland implements Schengen and EU travel restrictions

Iceland has implemented the travel restrictions imposed for the Schengen Area and the European Union. As of 20 March 2020, foreign nationals - except EU/EEA, EFTA or UK nationals - are not allowed to enter Iceland. This advice is valid until 17 April 2020.

Regional solidarity stressed at Nordic and NB8 conference call

The Foreign Ministers’ of Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden emphasize the solidarity of the Nordic countries and their co-operation in the face of the great challenges facing the world at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.…

Large scale testing of general population in Iceland underway

Iceland has tested a higher proportion of citizens than most other countries yielding valuable insights into the behavior of the virus.

Icelanders advised not to travel abroad

The Government of Iceland has decided to advise Icelanders not to travel abroad under the current circumstances and Icelanders traveling abroad are encouraged to consider returning to Iceland earlier then planned.

Stricter measures to slow down the spread of COVID-19

The Government has announced a ban on gatherings of 100 people or more, starting Monday 16 March. Universities and upper secondary schools will close for four weeks and special conditions will apply to elementary schools and preschools.​

Response to COVID-19 in Iceland

Icelandic authorities have taken preventive steps to contain the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus in the country.…

Report on Iceland in the UN Human Rights Council

The objectives of Iceland's membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council have been achieved in all key respects. This is among the conclusions of a report prepared by the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs following the end of Iceland's term at the Human Rights Council.…

UK and EEA EFTA Separation Agreement signed

Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, today signed the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement on behalf of Iceland, alongside the Foreign Ministers of Liechtenstein and Norway and the UK Brexit Secretary.

Foreign Ministers of Iceland and Russia met in Moscow

Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, and Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russia Federation, met in Moscow yesterday. The focus of their discussion was on the Arctic affairs and bilateral relations and trade. European security affairs and international affairs were also discussed.

Arctic Council actors join forces in Hveragerði

At the meeting concluded in Hveragerði, Iceland, earlier today, delegates of the Senior Arctic Officials’ plenary meeting discussed enhanced cooperation on issues related to people and communities of the Arctic

Iceland criticises the Turkish military offensive in Syria

Iceland strongly criticises the Turkish military offensive against Kurds in Northern Syria. This position has been formally communicated to the Turkish authorities. As this military offensive is not in accordance with international law, Iceland calls on Turkey to immediately cease its operations and respect international law.…

First joint meeting between the Arctic Council and the Arctic Economic Council

The Arctic Council and the Arctic Economic Council hold their first joint meeting today in Reykjavik, bringing together government representatives of the eight Arctic States, business representatives, as well as representatives of the indigenous Permanent Participants, and the Councils’ respective Working Groups.

Report of the working group on the EEA co-operation has been published

A working group appointed by Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, delivered its report today on Iceland‘s membership of the European Economic Area Agreement.

First Arctic Council Working Group on Sustainable Development (SDWG) meeting in Iceland concluded

The first meeting of the Sustainable Development Working Group during Iceland’s Arctic Council Chairmanship brought together around 70 participants in Iceland on 10-12 September.

Thematic Conference on Strengths, Well-Being and Engagement of Youth in the Arctic

A thematic conference on Strengths, Well-Being and Engagement of Youth in the Arctic was held in Iceland in connection with the meeting of the Arctic Council Working Group on Sustainable Development taking place in Isafjordur.

Arctic Council Working Group on Sustainable Development (SDWG) meets in Iceland

The Arctic Council Working Group on Sustainable Development (SDWG) will meet on 10-12 September in Iceland.

Land restoration essential for mitigating the climate crisis - letter of intent signed

On 8 September 2019, Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, and Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Agency (UNEP), signed a letter of intent on cooperation of Iceland and UNEP in the field of land restoration.

U.S.-Icelandic Business Round Table on the Occasion of the Visit of Vice President Mike Pence to Iceland

Mr. Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States, and Mr. Gudlaugur Thór Thórðarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, led a round table discussion on strengthening commercial, scientific and cultural ties between the US and Iceland.

Iceland´s resolution on the situation in the Philippines approved in the UN Human Rights Council

The UN Human Rights Council today passed a resolution, tabled by Iceland, on the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines.…

Vatnajökull National Park added to UNESCO‘s World Heritage List

Vatnajökull National Parks has been inscribed on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. The decision, which was taken at a meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Baku, Azerbaijan last Friday, confirms that the natural environment of the Park and the Nature Reserve at Lónsöræfi have a unique value to humankind.

Trade dialogue with the United States

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) and an interagency delegation from Iceland led by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs convened in Reykjavík on June 27, 2019, for a trade dialogue.

Iceland supports campaign for equal rights of LGBTI+ people

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, has decided to donate USD 100,000 in funding to Free & Equal, the UN public information campaign aimed at promoting equal rights and fair treatment of LGBTI+ people.

First meeting of Iceland's Arctic Council Chairmanship in Reykjanesbær

Iceland took over the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council in early May. The first Senior Arctic Official’s (SAO) executive meeting under the Icelandic Chairmanship was held on 18-19 June in Reykjanesbær, Iceland.

Iceland's Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Phone call between the Foreign Ministers of Iceland and Turkey

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson spoke today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, regarding the arrival of the Turkish National Football Team in Keflavik International Airport on 9 June.

Statement from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

The Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs can confirm that it has been in a communication with the Turkish authorities regarding the arrival of the Turkish National Football Team to Keflavik International Airport on Sunday evening. The Ministry has been informed by the Icelandic Transportation Authority (Isavia) that the security check followed required procedures.

Iceland awarded the Womenomics Honorary Award

Iceland has been awarded the Womenomics Honorary Award for its contribution to gender equality. Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, received the award for Iceland’s position as the global front-runner when it comes to gender equality, during the international business conference The Womenomics Nordic Business Conference.

Annual Report: Foreign Affairs 2019

An English excerpt of Minister Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson‘s report on Foreign Affairs is now available. The Minister presented the report to the Althingi Parliament in late April. The entire report can be found here (only in Icelandic).

Foreign Affairs: Excerpt from the Report of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland to the Parliament 2019

Foreign Affairs: Excerpt from the Report of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland to the Parliament 2019

Iceland assumes Chairmanship of the Arctic Council

Iceland has assumed the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council and will lead the Council for two years. This morning, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Guðlaugur Thór Thórdarson, received the gavel from his Finnish counterpart at the Rovaniemi Ministerial Meeting in Finland.

Icelandic authorities welcome decision to declare the wordmark “Iceland” invalid

Icelandic authorities have welcomed the ruling by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) that the wordmark registration of “Iceland”, which had been registered in the European Union by the British retail chain Iceland Foods Ltd., is invalid in its entirety. The enterprise has been given two months to appeal the decision.

Information for UK nationals living in Iceland

UK citizens who have their domicile registered in Iceland will be guaranteed a continuous right to reside in Iceland after Brexit. UK citizens are encouraged to make sure they are registered correctly with Registers Iceland.

Joint understanding on the application of the third energy package towards Iceland

Foreign Minister Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson and Commissioner Canete discussed on 20 March 2019 the EU Third Energy Package, taking into account the unique situation in Iceland as concerns renewable energy and energy markets.

Iceland pledges further support to humanitarian efforts in Yemen

Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Foreign Minister of Iceland, warned against Islamophobia and anti-Semitism in his speech at the 40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Iceland pledged USD 250,000 at a High-Level Pledging Even for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen held in Geneva today.

US Secretary of State visited Iceland

Trade, Arctic and security and defense were among the topics discussed at a lunch meeting between Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Foreign Minister of Iceland, and Michael Pompeo, US Secretary of State, in Reykjavik today. Pompeo also paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir where they discussed climate change, nuclear disarmament, Arctic affairs and bilateral relations.

Statement on the situation in Venezuela

Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, has declared Iceland‘s support for Juan Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela.

Foreign Minister of Iceland met with US Secretary of State

Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson,Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, met with Mike Pompeo, United States Secretary of State, in Washington DC yesterday. Security and defence, trade and Arctic issues featured high on the agenda.

Iceland tops the WEF Global Gender Gap Index for the consecutive tenth year

For the tenth year in a row, Iceland is at the top of the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Index published this morning. Three Nordic neighbours follow Iceland on the Index – Norway in second place, Sweden comes third and Finland in the fourth place.

EFTA and Indonesia sign CEPA agreement

Ministers and other representatives from the EFTA States, including Iceland, and from Indonesia have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The agreement will strengthen the economic ties and promote trade and investment between the two sides.

New National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security

Iceland’s third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security has been published. The third National Action Plan sets forth the objectives of the Icelandic government and the means by which they are to be achieved in 2018-2022.

Iceland’s third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland‘s official visit to India

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Mr. Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, is on an official visit to India where he arrived on 7 December on the first direct flight between the two countries. During his visit he has met with Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs of India, Mr. KJ Alphons, Minister of State for Tourism and Mr.…

Leaders of Iceland and the UK reach an agreement on residence rights after Brexit

The leaders of Iceland and the UK have agreed that Icelandic citizens in the UK and British citizens in Iceland will retain their residence rights after Brexit, even in the case of a no-deal with the EU.…

Iceland hosts annual NATO conference

This week, Iceland hosts the annual NATO conference on weapons of mass destruction, arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Iceland‘s Minister for Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of disarmament and peace in his keynote speech.

NATO Exercise Trident Juncture 2018 in Iceland

As an integral part of Trident Juncture 2018, several activities took place in Iceland last week with the participation of some one thousand troops, leading up to the main part of the exercise in Norway. Ten naval vessels docked in Reykjavik Harbour over the weekend for a pre-sail conference.

Government’s participation in the sixth Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík

The annual Arctic Circle Assembly took place at Harpa last week, attracting over 2,000 guests from over fifty countries. The assembly, led by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson former President of Iceland, has become the world’s largest international gathering on the Arctic.…

Minister Thordarson visits United Nations, France and UK

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson, is back from his visit to New York, where he attended the United Nations General Assembly. He then went on to France, where he met with Minister for Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Yves Le Drian, and visited UNESCO and the OECD. He finished his tour in the UK where he met with UK Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

Iceland‘s first session as a member of the Human Rights Council

Yesterday was a historic day when Iceland attended the first session of the Human Rights Council since being elected to the Council this summer.

DNA analysis of whale hybrid concluded

A DNA analysis of a whale caught in Iceland on 7 July has concluded that it was a hybrid of a fin whale and a blue whale, not a blue whale. The analysis was conducted by the Icelandic Marine and Freshwater Research Institute and Matis.

Iceland elected to the Human Rights Council

Iceland was elected to the Human Rights Council at the United Nations General Assembly in New York today, having received 172 out of 178 votes. Iceland thereby fills the vacancy left by the United States on the Council and will serve until the end of 2019. This is the first time Iceland serves on the Council.