Events

Polling stations abroad are all of the diplomatic missions of Iceland along with the offices of 215 honorary consuls all over the world.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Meet Icelandic Trademark Holding, Iceland's Finest, Fisherman Iceland and Islensk hollusta in booth #5060 Level 1 at Javits Center as well as Saltverk in booth #4614 and Omnom in booth #4616

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.

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.

Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, emphasized human rights, reforms in the international system and the urgency of concrete actions against climate change in his address at the 74th Session of the General Assembly of the UN in New York on September 27.

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

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. Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation says that international response demonstrates that Iceland has passed the test of membership.

Icelandic authorities have taken preventive steps to contain the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus in the country. As Iceland has few entry points and the lowest population density in Europe, the country has been able to move swiftly to identify, communicate with and, where necessary, quarantine Icelandic residents who have been travelling from high risk areas and those who have been in contact with individuals diagnosed with the virus.

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.

The Icelandic government has announced a ban on gatherings of 20 people or more, starting Tuesday 24 March 2020. These measures are put in place to halt the spread of COVID-19 infections in Iceland, following recommendations from the Chief Epidemiologist to Svandís Svavarsdóttir Icelands‘s Minister of Health. The advice of the Chief Epidemiologist to the Minister of Health has been to focus the response in Iceland on the swift diagnosis of COVID-19 cases.

Icelandic authorities are taking strict measures to limit the spread of the COVID-19 disease in the country.

Iceland's Chief Epidemiologists said in today's press briefing that the data suggests that the outbreak of Covid-19 in Iceland is showing clear signs of deceleration. He advises that the apparent success is precarious, and minor setbacks can change the outlook dramatically.

Iceland will soon lift travel restrictions for residents of fifteen states outside the EU/Schengen Area in line with the decision of EU Member States. EU/Schengen citizens and residents are free to travel to Iceland under the condition that they preregister prior to arrival and undergo either a PCR test or a 14-day quarantine upon arriva

On 30 October 2019, the foreign ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden decided to task Mr. Björn Bjarnason of Iceland to prepare an independent report with non-binding proposals on how to further develop Nordic cooperation on foreign and security policy.

The Minister of Health has decided, based on the recommendations of the Chief Epidemiologist, that Icelandic citizens and residents of Iceland will have to take special precautions during the first five days after arrival in Iceland or until they can be tested for the second time for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

No new domestic infections in the last three weeks and 11 active infections found in border screening during the same period. Local incidence in the past 14 days is 0, but 2,2 per 100 thousand when the border-screening cases are included.

New clusters of domestic infections are being investigated. Gathering limit set at 100 individuals and continued emphasis on personal hygienic measures and individual responsibility

The Government of Iceland has decided to impose more comprehensive border-screening measures as of 19 August. All arriving passengers must choose between a 14-day quarantine and a double testing procedure along with a quarantine for 5-6 days.

Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Cooperation of Iceland, delivered a Joint Nordic Statement at a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Belarus today. On behalf of the Nordic Foreign Ministers, Guðlaugur expressed great concern about the human rights situation in Belarus following the recent presidential election, which neither could be considered free nor fair.

The United States and Iceland held their second Economic Dialogue earlier this week, on October 27. The Economic Dialogue was jointly established by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson following their meeting in Reykjavik in February 2019.

Greenland and Iceland - Report of the Greenland Committee Appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Cooperation has now been published.

The Greenland Committee appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Co-operation has delivered its extensive report with a detailed analysis of the current co-operation between Greenland and Iceland and recommendations on how to strengthen the co-operation. The Minister discussed the report with his Greenlandic counterpart, Steen Lynge on Wednesday.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland has published an extensive report on Iceland's international trade policy. The report covers a wide range of trade related topics and gives an overview of Iceland’s free trade agreements and improved market access for Icelandic exporters worldwide.

New border measures will come into force on February 19 which requires all arriving passengers in Iceland to present a negative PCR taken within 72 hours of their time of departure to Iceland. This is in addition to the current system of double screening, that also requires all arriving passengers to submit to a PCR test upon arrival, followed by a 5-day quarantine and a second PCR test. Those who provide valid proof of having been vaccinated against COVID-19 are not required to provide a PCR-test prior to boarding and are also exempt from screening and quarantine measures at the border. The same applies to those who can provide proof of prior infection.

Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation of Iceland, today warned that the Covid-19 pandemic must not be used to justify long-term restrictions of civil liberties and freedom.

The Government of Iceland announced today new loosening on COVID-19 measures. The general limit on gatherings will be raised from 20 to 50, with ongoing emphasis on distancing and other personal precautions. As of tomorrow, a general limit of 150 people within confined areas will apply to higher level schooling, including universities.

Following a series of earthquakes, a volcanic tremor pulse was detected south of Mt Keilir, in the Reykjanes Peninsula, yesterday afternoon. The area is in southwest Iceland, about 20km (12.5 miles) from Keflavik International Airport and about 15km (less than 10 miles) from the Reykjavík metropolitan area. Such a tremor pulse is a strong indicator of intrusive magma movements that could lead to an imminent volcanic eruption. However, no eruption has been confirmed, but the area is being monitored closely.

The Icelandic government has announced that all those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to travel to Iceland without being subject to border measures, such as testing and quarantine. Until now, this exemption has only applied to those presenting certificates from the EU/EEA Area but will now apply equally to everyone who can provide proof of a full vaccination with a vaccine that has been certified for use by the European Medical Agency as well as requirements defined by the Chief Epidemiologist of Iceland and Icelandic regulations. The exemption also applies to those who can provide valid proof of prior infection. Documentation on prior infections must be in accordance with the requirements defined by the Chief Epidemiologist.

The Minister of Justice has issued a regulation banning unnecessary travel from specified high-risk areas due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The regulation enters into force today, 27 April, ​and remains in force until the end of May.

The human rights situation in Belarus and Iceland´s support to the cause of reform movements in the country were the main topics of discussion at a meeting between Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Cooperation of Iceland, and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, opposition leader from Belarus on Friday.

On 6 July 2021, EFTA Ministers convened for an informal meeting in Siglufjörður, Iceland, as an opening to Iceland’s one-year chairmanship of the EFTA Council. It was the first physical meeting of the EFTA Ministers since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Cooperation, has signed on behalf of Iceland a new Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. He says that the FTA marks a new beginning in the relations between Iceland and the UK.

The Minister of Health has decided to extend the application of the regulation on COVID-19 quarantine measures at the border in line with the recommendation of the Chief Epidemiologist. The regulation will remain in force until 15 January 2022.

Delegates of Iceland have presented their points of emphases for Iceland’s Executive Board candidacy to the UNESCO General Conference. Iceland has been increasing its activities and contributions to development cooperation within UNESCO in recent years.

Iceland has been elected to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation at its ongoing General Conference in Paris. Iceland received 168 votes in today’s election.

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.

Iceland has decided to close its airspace to Russian air traffic and suspend visa facilitation for Russian officials, business people and other such parties.

Bergdís Ellertsdóttir, the Ambassador of Iceland to the United States, today delivered to the U.S. Department of State the instruments of accession to the protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of Finland and Sweden. The Parliament, Althingi, adopted a Parliamentary Resolution on June 7th authorizing the Government to accept the protocols once they were ready.

The Icelandic festival of Manitoba, Íslendingadagurinn, was held in the town of Gimli in Canada on 31 July and 1 August. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, was a guest of honor and representative of the Icelandic Government at the event. She furthermore attended the Deuce of August, an Icelandic festival in Mountain, North-Dakota in the United States. Both celebrations are the largest Icelandic events held in Canada and the United States respectively.

The Nordic defence ministers issued the following statement after a virtual meeting on 30 September 2022.

Defence Ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) met in Edinburgh on 9-10 November. During the Ministerial, the security situation in Europe, support to Ukraine and collective approaches to security in the region was discussed. The Permanent Secretary of State, Martin Eyjólfsson, attended the Defence Ministerial on behalf of the Foreign Minister. Following the meeting a Joint Statement was released.

Today, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution tabled by Iceland and Germany to set up an international independent fact-finding mission to investigate ongoing human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran related to the protests happening since 16 September 2022.