Overview of Icelandic Foreign Policy
Screening Iceland
Chapter 31, Foreign, Security and Defence Policy – Bilateral
Brussels, 20 May 2011
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Milestones
1874
1904
1918
1941
1944
1945
1946
1947
1949
1951
1952
1970
1993
Constitution
Home Rule
Sovereign state. Act of Union with Denmark
Military protection agreement with the US
Republic of Iceland proclaimed
Founding member of the Bretton Woods Institutions
UN membership
OEEC (OECD) founding member
NATO founding member
Bilateral defence treaty with the US
Nordic Council established
EFTA treaty ratified
EEA treaty ratified
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Icelandic Foreign Service
1918 Act of Union between Iceland and Denmark
Iceland's foreign affairs entrusted to Denmark
1920 First embassy opened in Copenhagen
1940 Denmark occupied, Iceland takes charge of own
foreign affairs
Foreign Service Act passed by Althingi
Embassies opened in London and Stockholm,
Consulate General in N.Y.
1944 The Act of Union with Denmark terminated
June 17: Republic of Iceland
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Ministry for Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Affairs
Security and Defence
International Development Cooperation
Foreign Trade
• Minister for Foreign Affairs
and External Trade
Mr Össur Skarphéðinsson
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Mandate of the Foreign Service
• Icelandic Foreign Service Act No 39/1971
– The Foreign Service (i.e. the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Icelandic Embassies,
Consulates and Missions to International Organisations) is responsible for
foreign affairs, including defence, security and external trade
• MFA has overall responsibility for the supervision and
coordination of all aspects of foreign policy
– Other ministries may be involved in implementing foreign policy in their
respective fields, the
• MFA Responsible for treaty negotiations with other States
• Act on the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament No 55/1991
– the Foreign Affairs Committee of Althingi shall be consulted regarding all major
issues concerning foreign relations
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Organisation of the MFA
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Directorate of International Affairs and Security
Directorate of External trade and Economic Affairs
Directorate of International Development Cooperation
Directorate of Administration and Consular Affairs
• Under the authority of the MFA:
– Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA)
– Promote Iceland
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Organisation of the MFA
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Structure of the Foreign Service
• Diplomatic relations with 188 countries (incl.
Holy See)
• Diplomatic Missions
– 18 embassies
– 3 permanent missions
– 3 consulates general
• Administrative Capacity
– 244 members of staff
• 137 in Reykjavík
• 107 in missions abroad
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Diplomatic Missions
Embassies
Permanent Missions
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Beijing
Berlin
Brussels
Copenhagen
Helsinki
Kampala (ICEIDA)
Lilongwe (ICEIDA)
London
Maputo (ICEIDA)
Moscow
New Dehli
Oslo
Ottawa
Paris
Stockholm
Tokyo
Vienna
Washington DC
New York (UN)
Brussels (NATO, EU)
Geneva (UN, EFTA, WTO)
Vienna (IAEA, UNOV, OSCE, CTBTO)
Paris (UNESCO, CoE, FAO, OECD)
London (IMO)
Consulates General
• Winnipeg
• Thorshavn
• New York
248 honorary consuls in 86 countries
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MFA Budget
MFA Budget 2011: ISK 9,582.9 million (EUR 58 million)
10,5%
Foreign Ministry, ISK 1,010.3 million (10.5%)
3,1%
30,9%
Translation Centre, ISK 301.1 million (3.1%)
Diplomatic Missions, ISK 2,682.8 million (28.0%)
28,0%
Various, ISK 185.5 million (1.9%)
Official Development Assistance, ISK 2,443.6
million (25,5%)
25,5%
1,94%
03-401 International Organisations, ISK 2,959.3
million (30.9%)
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Laws Related to Foreign Policy
• The Icelandic Foreign Service Act No 39/1971
• Act to Authorize Iceland’s Acceptance of Agreements on
the Legal Status of the Nordic Council of Ministers,
Nordic Council and Nordic Organisations No 55/1989
• Act on Iceland’s acceptance of the Convention on
Consular Relations No 24/1978
• Act on Iceland’s acceptance of the Convention on
Diplomatic Relations No 16/1971
• Notification on Iceland’s acceptance of the UN Charter
No 91/1946
• Act on Iceland’s International Development Cooperation
No 121/2008
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Laws Related to Foreign and Security Policy
• Act on the Implementation of International
Sanctions No 93/2008
• Act on the Implementation of the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and
Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their
Destruction No 26/2001
• Act on the Iceland Crisis Response Unit and its
Participation in International Peacekeeping No
73/2007
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Laws Related to Foreign and Security Policy
• Act on the Implementation of the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Development, Production,
Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on
their Destruction No 17/2000
• Act on the rights of inspectors in connection with the
Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) and the
Treaty on Open Skies No 90/1994
• Act on Export Licensing No 4/1988
• Directive on access for peaceful military ships and
aircraft of foreign states to Icelandic territory No
44/1939
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Laws Related to Defence Policy
• Defence Act No 34/2008
• Act on the Legal Status of Military Forces of Member
States of NATO and Partnership for Peace and Others
No 72/2007 (SOFA agreements)
• Act Giving Legal Effect to the Defence Agreement
Between Iceland and the United States and Annex
Regulating the Status of United States Personnel and
Property No 110/1951
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Ministry for Foreign Affairs http://www.mfa.is
EU Application Website http://europe.mfa.is/
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