Former foreign minister challenges refusal to release EU documents

Former Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson is demanding access to around 100 documents about Iceland’s communications with the European Union when the membership negotiations were terminated, mbl.is reports. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has refused to release the documents, citing information-access laws.

“It is unacceptable for me, for other ministers and for all future ministers responsible for ministries not to have access to all documents created there during their time in office,” Sveinsson said.

The negotiations began under the governments of Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and Steingrímur J. Sigfússon. Sveinsson says the ministry’s decision does not take into account the laws governing the Icelandic government or ministerial responsibility.

“A minister is legally responsible for his ministry and what takes place there. He is ultimately accountable, so it is essential that a minister’s access to documents is not limited to the dates on which he serves in the ministry,” he said.

Sveinsson said he had sought all documents concerning the ministry’s communications with the EU about withdrawing Iceland’s membership application since early 2025. He said the ministry had argued, among other things, that the documents contained sensitive information about communications between countries.

He wants to see minutes, memorandums and emails exchanged by the parties when the withdrawal was announced to the EU. Sveinsson said he disagreed with claims that the government’s decision to withdraw had been insufficiently clear, arguing that there had been agreement among the ministers involved to terminate the negotiations.

After waiting for about a year and a half, Sveinsson said he had decided, in consultation with a lawyer, to request the documents again. If the ministry does not change its position, he said he would probably take the case to the Information Appeals Committee or the Ombudsman of Alþingi, Iceland’s parliament.

He said public administration must enjoy trust, particularly as a referendum approaches on whether to continue the negotiations that the government decided to terminate.