Iceland's accession negotiations with the European Union were formally opened today at the first intergovernmental conference in Brussels. Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, Össur Skarphédinsson, participated on Iceland's behalf in the conference, hosted by the Belgian Presidency of the EU.

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Össur Skarphedinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs will be traveling to Brussels Today, where he is to participate in the Intergovernmental Conference on 27 July 2010, which marks the start of the negotiations on Iceland's accession to The European Union. The Conference will to take place after the meeting of EU's Foreign Ministers.

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In a one-hour long meeting with Xi Jinping, Vice President of the People's Republic of China, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing today, the Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, Össur Skarphéðinsson, proposed a formal agreement between China and Iceland on co-operation in the field of geothermal development in developing countries, especially in East Africa, which is rich in geothermal resources.

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Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, met this morning with János Martonyi, Hungarian Foreign Minister and Pal Schmitt, Speaker of the Parliament and newly elected president. Today marks an end to a three day official visit of the Icelandic Foreign Minister to Croatia and Hungary.

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The prospect of Iceland becoming a new EU Member State is welcomed in a resolution adopted on Wednesday by the European Parliament. MEPs expect that the new EP-Iceland Joint Parliamentary Committee between the EP and the Althingi (Icelandic Parliament) will enhance an existing "fruitful collaboration" between the two sides.

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Össur Skarphedinsson, Minister for Foreign affairs of Iceland, met yesterday in Zagreb with Gordan Jandrokovic, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Croatia and Ivo Josipovic, President of Croatia. Later in the morning Mr. Skarphedinsson visited the Croatian Parliament and met with Luka Bebic, Speaker of the Parliament.

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Promote Iceland (Islandsstofa) was formally established today. The aim is to strengthen Iceland's image and reputation, to strengthen the competitiveness of Icelandic businesses abroad and to encourage foreign tourists and investors to visit Iceland

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The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) held its summer Ministerial meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland, chaired by Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Iceland,  marking the 50th anniversary of EFTA MORE...

Economist Jagdish Bhagwati, Professor at Columbia University, will give an open lecture on climate change; ,,After Copenhagen: Designing the Climate Change Treaty" Thursday 24 June at 12:00-13:00 at the University of Iceland, Háskólatorg MORE...

Vladimir Titov, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Russia, met today with Össur Skarphédinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland. MORE...

The European Council decided today that negotiations should be opened for Iceland's accession to the European Union.  The decision follows a positive opinion by the European Commission in February 2010 on Iceland's application

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Mr. He Guoqiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, visits Iceland on 9-10 June.

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Tomorrow, Thursday 3 June, Icelanders will gather together online to show the world their country is open for business, open for excitement and hoping to inspire the world MORE...

The Foreign Minister joines the European Union, the United Nations and others in demanding an thorough investigation into the raid

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Briefings emphasizing Iceland as an unique tourist destination, following the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajökull, will be held in eight European countries this week. MORE...

Ossur Skarphedinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, delivered today his annual report on foreign affairs to the Icelandic Parliament.

Read his speech to parliament by clicking here

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Due to popular demand, spectacular volcano shots showing the most recent volcano eruption in Iceland have been added to the Icelandic Pavilion movie exhibition. MORE...

On 22 April 2010, the German Parliament approved EU accession talks with Iceland. This is the first time that a national parliament has voted on the application of an aspirant member of the EU, but the Bundestag adopted new legislation to that end after the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

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With a  view to the ash distribution forecast  for Friday 23 April the flight zone for Keflavik and Reykjavík Airports have been closed  for a certain period of time, see The Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration. In Iceland there are four international Airports,  Keflavík,  Reykjavík, Akureyri and Egilsstaðir. It is not expected that the ash distribution will reach Akureyri or Egilsstaðir and these two airports will be open for all air traffic. Passengers are asked to monitor flight schedules closely on travel industry web sites.

The affects of the eruption in Eyjafjallajökull in southern Iceland are regional and bound to a limited part of the south coast of Iceland. The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management has for precautionary reasons issued guidelines for the public and farmers in region with information on protection against ash fall. The Icelandic version of the guide is based on "The Health Hazards of Volcanic Ash" issued by the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network which is available here.

The volcanic eruption in the glacier Eyjafjallajokull in South Iceland has disrupted air traffic and resulted in many foreign travelers and Icelanders living abroad not having been able to get to their destinations in time. The Consular Affairs Unit of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs urges people to monitor instructions from airlines and travel agencies. Information from Icelandic airlines and civil aviation authorities can be found here. It is also important for travelers to familiarize themselves with the rights of airline passengers that can be found at the Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration's website.

If your Schengen visas is expiring and you cannot leave Iceland because of aiport closures, you can get your visa extended at the Icelandic Directorate for Immigrationo at Skógarhlíð 6, Reykjavík. You need to bring your passport and one passport size photo. See www.utl.is.

On 15 April, the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Association of Local Authorities in Iceland, and the EU Commission co-hosted a conference on the European Union's regional policy and employment issues.

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Volcanic ash fall and risk of flooding main causes of concern MORE...

Travelling restrictions are in the area around Eyjafjallajökull glacier, where a volcanic eruption began last night. Travellers in the south of Iceland are advised to exercise caution, follow instructions and not to enter restricted areas MORE...

The Icelandic government welcomes the report published today by the Special Investigative Commission of the Parliament on the causes of the collapse of the Icelandic banking system. The report is the first comprehensive analysis of the causes of the collapse of the three largest Icelandic banks.

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The Prime Minister of Iceland has sent the Polish Prime Minister a letter of condolences on the death of President Lech Kaczynski and several Polish representatives. MORE...

Voters can cast their ballots in 235 locations in 84 countries MORE...

The Icelandic Government has decided to put forward a parliamentary bill to amend Defence Law nr. 34/2008.

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Travelling restrictions remain in the area around where a volcanic eruption begun in Southern Iceland late Saturday night. Traffic on main roads has been reopened but travellers in the area are advised to exercise caution, follow instructions and not to enter restricted areas, which are marked.

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Press release of the Government of Iceland on the Icesave referendum MORE...

Over 30 media outlets are expected in Iceland for the referendum. MORE...

Iceland welcomes the opinion of the European Commission on Iceland's application for EU membership, which recommends the opening of accession negotiations MORE...

The Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs, The Agricultural University of Iceland, The Soil Conservation Service of Iceland and the United Nations University have signed an agreement to operate the United Nations University Land Restoration Training Programme in Iceland (UNU-LRT). MORE...

The Icelandic government has formally protested a meeting of five member states of the Arctic Council, which is scheduled to take place in Canada this March, whithout the participation of Iceland, Sweden and Finland, who also sit in the Council MORE...

Iceland ranks first among 163 countries in an Environmental Performance Index produced by environmental experts from Yale University and Columbia University. According to the findings, Iceland's top ranking derives from its high scores on environmental public health, controlling greenhouse gas emission, renewable energy production and reforestation. MORE...

Out of country voting for the national referendum on the so-called Icesave issue on 6 March 2010 MORE...

A national referendum on the so-called Icesave legislation will be held on 6 March 2010, as announced by the Icelandic Minister of Justice, Ragna Arnadottir, today. Out of country voting will start on the 28 January. MORE...

A 35-man strong Icelandic International Search and Rescue Team has pulled the first two eartquake-victims alive out of the rubble of the Caribbean Market in Port-au-Prince in Haiti. MORE...

A 37-man strong Icelandic International Search and Rescue Team has landed in Port-au-Prince, one of the first rescue teams to reach Haiti following the devastating earthquake which hit 24 hours ago MORE...

The Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs has offered to assist in evacuating foreign nationals from Haiti with plane which is leaving the capital, Port-au-Prince, tonight, 13 January, at 18:30 local time. MORE...

The foreign minister of Iceland, Mr Ossur Skarphedinsson, has decided to deploy the Icelandic International Search and Rescue Team to Haiti to participate in rescue efforts after an earthquake hit south of Port-au-Prince yesterday. MORE...

The Foreign Minister of Iceland, Ossur Skarphedinsson, spoke today with Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the Foreign Minister of Spain, which holds the Presidency of the European Union. MORE...

The Icelandic Parliament, Althingi, convened today to debate a Government bill regarding the preparation for a national referendum on the so-called Icesave legislation. This comes in the wake of the President of Iceland´s decision on 5 January not to sign into law a bill which provides for a state guarantee of loan repayments to the British and Dutch governments. MORE...

The Government of Iceland has decided to hold a national referendum on the so-called Icesave legislation, following broad consultations with both coalition and opposition parties as well as employers' associations and labor unions. The referendum is expected to take place late February. MORE...

The President of Iceland has declined to sign a law authorising a state guarantee for repayment of loans provided by the UK and the Netherlands to the Depositors' and Investors' Guarantee Fund, intended to cover payment of the minimum deposit guarantees to depositors in the UK and Netherlands branches of the failed Landsbanki Íslands hf. MORE...

Today marks 50 years since the signing of the Stockholm Convention establishing EFTA, the European Free Trade Association. MORE...