Andersen says minister cannot lead Iceland’s EFTA defence

Centre Party parliamentary group chair Sigríður Á. Andersen criticised the lack of information given to Alþingi’s Foreign Affairs Committee about Iceland’s preparations for its defence in a case brought by the EFTA Surveillance Authority, mbl.is reported. She said the committee had not been briefed despite the foreign minister’s promise of close consultation.

Speaking during Alþingi’s proceedings on Wednesday, Andersen said she did not consider the foreign minister fit to lead Iceland’s defence. She argued that the minister had submitted a bill stating that Iceland had no grounds to defend its position in the case.

Andersen said the Icelandic state must submit a written statement by November 30, but the committee would not meet for two weeks. She also criticised a Social Democratic Alliance MP’s remark during a debate on Protocol 35 that it would be acceptable to lose the case before the EFTA Court. “That makes me shudder,” she said.