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11 May 2020Prime Ministers Office

Webpage on the Chairmanship of the Icelandic Prime Minister in the Council of Women World Leaders

Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland, became Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders in February 2020. A special webpage dedicated to her chairmanship in the council has been launched. The webpage also features a news section on Icelandic and International measures on promoting gender equality.

06 May 2020Prime Ministers Office

Prime Minister of Iceland and Austrian Minister of Equality discuss COVID-19 and gender equality

Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland and Susanne Raab, Federal Minister for Women and Integration in Austria had, earlier this week, a conference call where they discussed the effects of the current coronavirus pandemic on women and gender equality and COVID-19 recovery measures.

06 May 2020Prime Ministers Office

Women Leaders Virtual Roundtable on COVID-19

Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland, participated last week in a Women Leaders Virtual Roundtable on COVID-19 and the Future which was convened by UN Women and OECD to address the disproportionately negative impact the pandemic has had on women and girls and how to prevent the crisis from becoming a major backlash for the fight for gender equality.

28 April 2020Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing, Prime Ministers Office, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs

Government of Iceland announces increased support for companies and extension of part-time unemployment benefits

Icelandic companies that have suffered substantial revenue losses due to the COVID-19 crisis will be given the opportunity to apply for government support to pay a portion of salary costs during the employee notice period, protecting workers’ rights and preventing a wave of corporate insolvencies.

21 April 2020Ministry of Infrastructure, Prime Ministers Office, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs

Government of Iceland Announces Second Phase of Economic Response Package to the COVID-19 Crisis

Worth up to 420m USD, the latest phase of the economic response focuses on support and protections for small enterprises, innovation and vulnerable groups.

14 April 2020Prime Ministers Office, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health

Restrictions to be gradually lifted starting 4 May

At a press conference today, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, and the Minister of Justice introduced steps to lift the restrictions currently in place in Iceland due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

09 April 2020Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Prime Ministers Office

Covid-19 epidemic receding in Iceland - 295 new infections in the past seven days and 363 recoveries

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.

22 March 2020Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Prime Ministers Office, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Stricter measures enforced in Iceland: Ban on gatherings of more than 20 people

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.…

21 March 2020Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructure, Prime Ministers Office, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Icelandic Government announces 1.6bn USD response package to the COVID-19 crisis

Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Bjarni Benediktsson, Minister of Finance and Economy and Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, Minister of Transport and Local Government today announced the first-phase response measures to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The package is equivalent to ISK 230 bn (USD 1.6 bn) or just under 8% of Icelandic GDP.

15 March 2020Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Prime Ministers Office, Ministry of Health

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.

14 March 2020Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Prime Ministers Office, Ministry of Health

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.

10 March 2020Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Prime Ministers Office, Ministry of Infrastructure

Economic response to COVID-19

The Government of Iceland’s action plan to respond to the economic impact of COVID-19 aims to reduce and shorten the impact on business and the economy while also creating the conditions for a swift recovery.

21 February 2020Prime Ministers Office

The Icelandic government seeks to lead an action coalition of the Generation Equality Forum

The Icelandic government has welcomed UN Women’s Gender Equality Forum and expressed its interest to take on a leadership to support the initiative during the next five years.

16 January 2020Prime Ministers Office

The Prime Minister’s Committee for the Future publishes a report on Icelandic society in 2035–2040

The Committee for the Future, appointed by the Prime Minister, has published a report on Icelandic society in 2035-2040. The publication is the first report by the committee and addresses economic, environmental, regional and demographic developments and challenges of the Icelandic society over the next 15–20 years.

18 September 2019Prime Ministers Office

Indicators for measuring Well-being in Iceland

The Prime Minister‘s Committee on measurements for Well-being in Iceland has proposed a framework of 39 indicators that cover social, economic and environmental dimensions of quality of life. These indicators are intended to complement traditional economic measures, such as GDP, and monitor trends in people’s wellbeing.

16 September 2019Prime Ministers Office

An International conference on #metoo will start tomorrow

The Prime Minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, opens an international conference on #metoo, starting at 14.30 tomorrow in Harpa and concluding on 19 September. Tomorrow programme includes keynote speakers and debates with participation of the Nordic Ministers of gender equality.

21 August 2019Prime Ministers Office

Nordic Prime Ministers adopt a new vision and meet with Angela Merkel

The annual summer meeting of the Nordic Prime Ministers was held in Reykjavik yesterday, with the participation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Nordic Prime Ministers adopted a new vision for the Nordic Council of Ministers for the next ten years, focusing on climate action and sustainability.

20 August 2019Prime Ministers Office

The Nordic Prime Ministers and a group of Nordic CEOs in cooperation on climate action

This morning the Nordic Prime Ministers and a group of Nordic CEOs, Nordic CEOs for a Sustainable Future, signed a declaration of cooperation on climate action.

19 August 2019Prime Ministers Office

The Nordic Prime Ministers will gather in Reykjavík for annual summer meeting

On Tuesday, August 20, the prime ministers of the Nordic countries will gather in Reykjavik for their annual summer meeting. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be a guest of honour.

18 June 2019Prime Ministers Office

Declaration of Intent of the Government, Heavy Industry and Reykjavik Energy on the Capture and Sequestration of Carbon

Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister, Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources, Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Minister for Tourism, Industry and Innovation, Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, Minister for Education, Science and Culture, and the Managing Directors/Representatives of Reykjavík Energy, Elkem, Alcoa Fjarðaál, Rio Tinto Iceland and Norðurál today…

29 May 2019Prime Ministers Office

Iceland to address the spread of antibiotic resistance

Today, the Government of Iceland launched an action plan aiming to curb the spread of antibiotic resistance. By implementing this action plan, Iceland intends to be at the forefront of addressing this serious threat to global health.

28 May 2019Prime Ministers Office, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

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.

03 April 2019Prime Ministers Office

Government actions in support of the Labour Market Living Standards Agreement

The government presented its statement relating to the Living Standards Agreement between the social partners.

21 March 2019Prime Ministers Office

Announcement regarding discussions between Icelandair and Wow air

The Icelandic authorities are aware that discussions have commenced between Wow air and Icelandair on the feasibility of a combination of the two businesses.

15 February 2019Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Prime Ministers Office

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.

18 December 2018Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing, Prime Ministers Office, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

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.

02 December 2018Prime Ministers Office

Government of Iceland celebrated the centenary of Iceland as a sovereign country

On 1 December 2018, the Government of Iceland celebrated the centenary of Iceland as a sovereign country. Cultural events and exhibits in Reykjavik and around Iceland were open to the public.

27 November 2018Prime Ministers Office

Iceland PM convenes a first of many high-level roundtable in historic Höfði House, Reykjavík, calling for peaceful solutions to armed conflict and the protection of universal human rights

Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland, convened a high-level roundtable of women leaders to discuss peace, security and sustainability in Höfði House today.

14 November 2018Prime Ministers Office

Celebrating the Centenary of Independence and Sovereignty

On 1 December 2018, the Government of Iceland will host a cultural programme celebrating the centenary of Iceland as a sovereign country. The program will explore the past while focusing on the future.

11 October 2018Prime Ministers Office, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs

Merger of Central Bank of Iceland and Financial Supervisory Authority in preparation - Inflation targeting to remain the principal objective of monetary policy

The Ministerial Committee on Economic Affairs and Restructuring of the Financial System has decided to commence a review of the statutory framework for monetary policy, macroprudential policy, and financial market supervision.

10 September 2018Ministry of Education and Children, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Infrastructure, Prime Ministers Office, Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate, Ministry of the Environment٫ Energy and Climate

Iceland launches new Climate Strategy, boosting efforts to reach Paris goals

The Icelandic Government today announced a new Climate Strategy, intended to boost efforts in cutting net emissions. The new measures are to help Iceland meet its Paris Agreement targets for 2030 and reach the government‘s ambitious aim to make Iceland carbon neutral before 2040.

18 June 2018Prime Ministers Office

Speech by the Prime Minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, on Iceland's National Day, June 17th 2018

Fellow Icelanders. At the beginning of December 1918, Elka Björnsdóttir, a labourer in Reykjavik, wrote an entry in her journal, as she did at the end of each workday.

05 June 2018Prime Ministers Office

Financial stability should be prioritised over price stability

The task force on the monetary policy framework has formulated 11 proposals concerning the framework for prudential tools, a revised and improved inflation target, more targeted application of the Central Bank’s policy instruments, and procedures for monetary policy decision making.

30 November 2017Prime Ministers Office

New Icelandic Government takes office

A Government of the Left Green Movement, the Independence Party and the Progressive Party, took office today. The Government is headed by Mrs. Katrín Jakobsdóttir, chairman of the Left Green Movement, with eleven ministers; five from the Independence Party, three from the Left Green Movement and three from the Progressive Party.