Kristrún says foreign minister should lead Iceland’s EFTA defence

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir said the foreign minister should continue to lead preparations for Iceland’s defence against a case brought by the EFTA Surveillance Authority, mbl.is reported. She said she did not know when Alþingi’s Foreign Affairs Committee would be consulted.

Frostadóttir made the comments during an unscripted question session in parliament, responding to Sigríður Á. Andersen, an MP for the Independence Party. Andersen asked whether the prime minister should take charge of Iceland’s position in the case and criticised the lack of discussion with the committee.

Frostadóttir said the absence of consultation so far did not mean work on the defence was not underway. She said the case dated back to 2012 and had been handled by more than one government, adding that the foreign ministry and the wider administration were working intensively on preparations.

“I think it is completely natural that the foreign minister is the backbone of the preparations, as the foreign ministry is handling the matter,” Frostadóttir said. She confirmed the issue had been discussed by the government and said parliament should be closely consulted. She added that the case should not become party-political.

Andersen said the case had changed significantly after the EFTA Surveillance Authority decided on 30 September to sue Iceland. She said there was no guarantee the case would be dropped if parliament passed the government’s bill on Protocol 35 to the EEA Agreement. She again asked when the Foreign Affairs Committee would be consulted and whether the prime minister should lead the defence, given its implications for Iceland’s constitutional order.

Frostadóttir said she could not give a date for when consultation would take place, calling that the honest answer. Iceland must submit a written statement to the EFTA Court by 30 November.