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First Iceland election observation mission by Congress welcomes well-run process and efficient integrity measures
Reykjavik, 17.05.2026 – Commenting on the overall mission, Mélanie Lepoultier (France, ILDG), Head of delegation, noted: “The seven Congress teams deployed across the country observed...
Council of Europe Congress to observe local elections in Iceland
A 15-member delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will carry out an election observation mission from 13 to 17 May, to observe the local elections taking place on 16 May 2026 in Iceland. On election day, seven teams will be deployed throughout the...
Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment: three nominees to be shortlisted in Reykjavik
The Selection Panel for the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment, chaired by Petra Bayr, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and composed of six independent members with recognised standing in the field of women’s empowerment, will meet on 6 May at the...
Iceland: Commissioner encourages amending the bill on “Departure Centre” to avoid detention of children
In a letter to the Parliament of Iceland’s Judicial Affairs and Education Committee published today, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty encourages...
Council of Europe welcomes progress in anti-corruption reforms in Icelandic central government and police
Iceland has satisfactorily implemented 13 of the 18 GRECO recommendations
Call for nominations for the 2026 Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in partnership with the Government of Iceland, has issued a call for nominations for the 2026 Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment. The deadline for submitting nominations for this third edition of the Prize is 27 March 2026. Launched in...
One third of spending on European original films and series is made by global streamers
The European Audiovisual Observatory has just published a new report on investment in original European films and series made by the main media players in Europe. This new study reveals that total spending on European original works (excluding news and sports rights) amounted to EUR 25.1 billion...
Council of Europe strengthens cooperation with EEA and Norway Grants
A new framework agreement has been signed in Strasbourg under the EEA and Norway Grants, with Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway reinforcing their long-standing support for the Council of Europe for the next seven years. As part of the agreement, five mission-driven initiatives were launched, in...
Local self-government in Iceland, Latvia and Malta: Congress adopts new recommendations
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe at its 47th session has adopted recommendations on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government by Iceland, Latvia and Malta. The Congress has called on Iceland to incorporate local self-government into...
Congress calls on Iceland to incorporate local self-government into domestic law
In a recommendation adopted, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities concluded that Icelandic municipalities lead globally in terms of female voting and representation, and welcomed the high level of fiscal autonomy in the country’s local self-government. However, despite previous Congress...
Council of Europe evaluates access to official documents held by public authorities in 11 states
The Council of Europe’s Access Info Group (AIG), an independent group of experts created to monitor the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents by its parties, published today its first baseline evaluation reports on 11 states: Bosnia and Herzegovina,...
Secretary General meets President of Iceland
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has met President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson. The meeting focused on the Reykjavik agenda follow-up, notably in the areas of non-discrimination, gender equality, the environment, and artificial intelligence. The 75th anniversary initiatives and the...
Iceland should improve identification of human trafficking victims and step up investigations and prosecutions
The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its third evaluation report on Iceland, with a thematic focus on human trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. The report assesses developments since the...
Violence against women: GREVIO publishes annual report
The Council of Europe´s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) has published its annual report of activities, highlighting the key milestones and accomplishments of the Group of Experts in 2022. These include: the publication of nine baseline...
ECRI shines spotlight on four countries to measure progress against racism and intolerance
Poland, Luxembourg, North Macedonia and Iceland are the subject of reports from the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, to be released this week. The in-depth reports will look at how the countries are measuring up to Council of Europe standards to tackle racism, discrimination,...
Summary of Iceland’s Presidency of Committee of Ministers
The Council of Europe has published a summary of Iceland’s six-month Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, which came to an end on 17 May 2023 in Reykjavík at the 4th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe. Iceland took over the Presidency on 9 November 2022,...
European leaders unite around Ukraine and European values
Iceland has welcomed heads of state and government to the fourth Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavik. The Summit is an historic opportunity to reaffirm the common commitment to the Council of Europe’s core values and to refocus its mission in the light of new threats to human rights and...
Council of Europe Summit unites Heads of State and Government around Ukraine and European values
The Icelandic Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers is hosting a Summit of Heads of State and Government from the organisation’s 46 member states on 16 and 17 May in Reykjavik. This is the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe since its creation in 1949. The Summit will be an...
Icelandic Presidency: Secretary General meets Minister of Culture and Business Affairs
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has exchanged views with the Icelandic Minister of Culture and Business Affairs Lilja Alfredsdóttir. The meeting started with the preparations for the Fourth Summit of the Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik (16-17 May), a historic opportunity for...
President of Iceland addresses the Parliamentary Assembly
The President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, commended the Parliamentary Assembly for its swift response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “We must continue to condemn this violation of international law and norms. Therefore, let us all hope that the Reykjavík summit next month will deliver...
*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.