Emeritus professor accuses University of Iceland rector of obstructing EU debate

Ragnar Árnason, professor emeritus at the University of Iceland, has accused the university’s rector of obstructing public access to information about Iceland and the European Union, mbl.is reports.

In a statement sent to mbl.is, Árnason referred to a planned public lecture on Iceland’s possible EU membership that was moved from the University of Iceland’s ceremonial hall after it was deemed too political.

The lecture was to be delivered by Dr Carl Baudenbacher, former president of the EFTA Court and a leading expert on the European Economic Area Agreement and European law.

Árnason said the event was fully consistent with the university’s role as a research and educational institution, as well as with the government’s stated wish to provide the public with as much information as possible about Iceland and the EU before the vote.

According to the statement, Árnason and colleagues from the university’s faculties of economics and law applied to rent the ceremonial hall for Monday, August 10. Their application said Baudenbacher had agreed to give a public lecture in Iceland on EU affairs.

“There is no doubt that this lecture has strong relevance to law, economics and political science,” Árnason wrote in the application.

He said the rector had now chosen to terminate the rental agreement.

“By doing so, the rector’s office is obstructing the dissemination of information to the nation about the EU and Iceland. It is difficult to see how that can be consistent with the role of the University of Iceland,” Árnason said.

Árnason noted that public lectures of varying sizes are held at the University of Iceland and can attract widespread attention. Organisations and other parties sometimes encourage people to attend and advertise such events, he said, but that does not mean they organise the meetings or rent the venues.

He said he considered it a major benefit for the public when Baudenbacher agreed to give a lecture on the EU and Iceland, particularly with a referendum on applying for EU membership approaching.