A delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, comprising Rapporteurs Matthias Gysin (Switzerland, ILDG) and Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD), will made a monitoring visit to Iceland from 23 to 25 January 2024 to assess the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in the country since the previous monitoring report adopted by the Congress in 2017. They were accompanied by Professor Nikolaos Chlepas, member of the Group of Independent Experts on the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Greece).

The rapporteurs exchanged views with Minister of Infrastructure Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson. The Congress delegation also met Speaker of the Parliament Birgir Ármannsson, as well as President of the Supreme Court Benedikt Bogason and Parliamentary Ombudsman Skúli Magnússon. The Congress delegation also exchanged views with members of the Icelandic delegation to the Congress, as well as representatives of the association of local elected representatives, and the mayors of the municipalities of Reykjavík, Árborg, Vik, Reykjanesbær and Kópavogsbær.

Contact: Stéphanie Poirel +33 (0) 6 63 55 07 10

Iceland ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1991. Countries that have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter requires respect for a minimum number of rights, which form the European foundation of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities ensures that these principles are respected. Iceland also ratified the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority in 2017.