Today, Iceland served the EFTA Court with its Rejoinder in the Icesave case. In the Rejoinder Iceland responds to the arguments put foward by the EFTA Surveillance Authority in its Reply to Iceland´s Statement of Defence, submitted to the Court in early March.

This completes the 2nd round of the written procedure of this case.

Nordic cooperation is developing rapidly. When the Nordic Foreign Ministers came together in Stavanger on 4 May, they discussed ways of strengthening Nordic cooperation and a number of important international issues.  One of the platforms for deepening cooperation on foreign and security policy is the 2009 Stoltenberg Report, which outlines specific proposals for closer cooperation in 13 different areas.

At the meeting of the EEA Joint Committee on Monday 30 April Iceland presented a statement on the Commission proposal for a "Regulation on certain measures in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing for the purpose of the conservation of fish stock".  In its statement Iceland expressed grave concern that certain measures envisaged by the EU would put the EU in breach of its international obligations.

On 26^th April, Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, presented his annual report on foreign affairs to the Icelandic Parliament.

This morning, Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson met with Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, responsible for international trade. The Minister is part of a delegation led by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, which arrived today in Iceland on an official visit.

The Government of Iceland has today submitted its observations on the application for leave to intervene in the Icesave case, lodged with the EFTA Court by the European Commission. The observations are based on the advice of Lead Counsel, Tim Ward QC, and the case team assisting him.

Representatives of government and industry from Iceland, Japan and the European Union, met in Brussels last week for a workshop on cooperation in geothermal issues. The workshop was held in the premises of the European Economic and Social Committee.

The Government of Iceland has lodged with the EFTA Court its statement of defence in the Icesave case. The statement is submitted in response to the application lodged by the EFTA Surveillance Authority and forms the basis of Iceland’s defence.

France and Iceland have agreed to reinforce their cooperation on arctic matters. This was discussed at a meeting today in Paris between Össur Skarphédinsson, Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Alain Juppé, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of France.

Icelandic Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson, met yesterday with Nicolai Wammen, Denmark's Minister for European Affairs.

The consultative group for Iceland‘s accession negotiations with the European Union held its first meeting at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Friday the 24th of February. The chairperson of the group is Salvör Nordal, philosopher and director of the Centre for Ethics at the University of Iceland.

At the annual meeting of the Hoyvik Council, held in Reykjavík yesterday, Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson  and Kaj Leo Johannesen, Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands, discussed increased trade between Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Össur Skarphéðinsson today announced his decision to instruct Tim Ward QC as lead counsel in the infringement proceedings brought to the EFTA Court by the EFTA Surveillance Authority concerning minimum deposit guarantees on the Icesave accounts.