Iceland’s European Union negotiation committee appointed

eu1The Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs has appointed Iceland’s negotiation committee for the upcoming accession negotiations with the European Union. Ambassador Stefan Haukur Johannesson is the Chief negotiator and will lead the negotiation committee. The negotiation committee consists of the Chief negotiator, 10 chairpersons of individual negotiation teams and seven other members.

The negotiation committee of Iceland consists of the following individuals:

Chief Negotiator:
Mr. Stefan Haukur Johannesson, Ambassador of Iceland to the EU

Deputy Chairpersons:
Ms. Bjorg Thorarensen, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Iceland
Mr. Thorsteinn Gunnarsson, former Rector of the University of Akureyri, and Rannís expert

Members:
Ms. Greta Gunnarsdottir, Director-General, Directorate for International and Security Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Mr. Hogni S. Kristjansson, Director, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Ms. Kolfinna Johannesdóttir, MA in Economics
Mr. Martin Eyjolfsson, Director-General, Directorate for External Trade and Economic Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Mr. Sturla Sigurjonsson, Foreign Policy Advisor, Prime Minister´s Office
Mr. Thorsteinn Palsson, Lawyer

Chairpersons of negotiation teams:

EEA II, social policy, services, investment, environmental policy, etc.
Ms. Anna Johannsdottir, Director, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Legal issues
Ms. Bjorg Thorarensen, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Iceland

EEA I, goods, energy, competition, etc.
Ms. Bryndis Kjartansdottir, Director, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Fisheries
Mr. Kolbeinn Arnason, lawyer, former Director, Ministry of Fisheries

Foreign and Security Affairs
Ms. Maria Erla Marelsdottir, Director, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Financial Affairs
Ms. Marianna Jonasdottir, Director, Ministry of Finance

Economic and Monetary Affairs
Mr. Mar Gudmundsson, Governor, Central Bank of Iceland

Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments
Ms. Ragnheidur Elfa Thorsteinsdottir, Director, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Justice and Home Affairs
Ms. Ragnhildur Helgadottir, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Reykjavik

Agriculture and Rural Development
Mr. Sigurgeir Thorgeirsson, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture

Appointments were based on the majority opinion of the Icelandic Parliament´s Foreign Affairs Committee on Iceland’s application for membership of the European Union. Special emphasis was placed on individual negotiating experience and expert knowledge of the issues, and that accession negotiations are the collective responsibility of the entire Icelandic Government and administration. The Negotiation committee is gender equal.

The ten negotiation teams mentioned above will work closely with the negotiation committee. They will consist of representatives from ministries and agencies, as well as representatives from interested parties, organizations and the academic community. Domestic and foreign experts will also work with the negotiation teams.

The European Commission is expected to submit its opinion on Iceland’s application for membership of the EU to the European Council in the coming weeks or months. Member States will decide on starting accession negotiations with Iceland based on the Commission’s opinion.

Further information on the negotiation committee, including biographies of individual members, will be available on the Foreign Ministry’s homepage www.mfa.is.

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