« The EU has provided us with guarantees »

« The EU has assured us that we will be fully informed, participate in conversations and it will not come behind us. It was very clear at these meetings that they were very aware of the importance of watching the internal market, » says Kristrún Frostadóttir, Prime Minister in a conversation with mbl.is.

She is currently in Brussels, first and foremost to establish a good relationship with the new government with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and Antonio Costa, President of the Council.

« We have had good relations with these individuals and with the European Union, through the EEA Agreement and EFTA, but these personal relationships are of course important and this meeting could not come at a better time, although conditions are not the best.

The situation in the business economy and these changes in international affairs have, of course, made their sights on this meeting I have had, and the Prime Minister of Norway also had here earlier this week. We talked about customs issues, their impact on Iceland and possible actions of the European Union, ”says the Prime Minister.

Not considered timely to discuss commitments

Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Störe said yesterday that Norway had not received any collateral for customs shelters, asked if Iceland will receive such a guarantee, Kristrún replies that the EU does not consider it timely to grant any direct obligations at this time.

« We were very clear that it would be very bad if it was rooted in the internal market, which the EFTA States have been on, and if the European Union would impose tariffs to protect their economy against imports-they are of course concerned about imports, for example, if it looks like that. This relationship was rooted.

However, it is not timely to grant any direct obligations because the EU has not made any decision to apply against third states, so to speak. Unbelievable but true, over a short time, we are looking at the European Union in a third phase of customs measures against the United States. They are only now launching operations out of aluminum and steel from the United States, which are directed directly to the United States.

They just do not consider it timely to discuss commitments about something that may happen in the near future, but have committed themselves to keep us informed, and to ensure that it comes as no surprise to us in the coming weeks. « 

Great will to further enhance the cooperation of the countries

At the meeting of Kristrún and Ursula von der Leyen, customs issues, changed landscapes in international trade and security and defense were discussed.

« We discussed the security and defense issues considerably, the situation in the North Atlantic and the Arctic. They are very interested and are curious about what is happening there in our area. They asked a lot about defense and security in the country and are interested in hearing.

It is a willingness that is based on previous conversations to further strengthen the co -operation of these countries in the field of security and it was discussed in this context. This is something that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has so far discussed and is of course the basis for further integration between these EEA, EFTA States and the European Union. Norway has, for example, been implementing similar integration towards the European Union. « 

When asked, she said she has reviewed similar views with Costa, they have discussed the situation in business and defense, but most of them have been spent discussing the uncertainty that is up, the importance of moving in a sensible way in the uncertainty that exists.

« There was a discussion in particular regarding submarine cables and awareness of the importance of the submarine cables around Iceland and the role of the Coast Guard in the context, which they thought was very interesting. They also found it interesting to hear from our control capacity in the area, which is huge and very widespread.

So we briefly discussed the situation that relates to the referendum on EU membership. There was a clear message from me that there were different points of view across the parties, but that everyone agreed that it was important to get the will of the nation. Of course, this would be domestic affairs at this point, but it is important to continue to have positive relations with the European Union no matter how it goes. « 

Kristrún and Antonio Costa.

AFP/Nicolas Tucat

Ended the meeting in the EFTA House

When asked, Kristrún has been in contact with the Prime Minister of Norway after his meeting on Monday, he has discussed what the key points at his meeting with Von der Leyen had been.

« I was also in contact with the Prime Minister of Liechtenstein for the weekend, of course they also have significant concerns about their position, they get significantly higher tariffs from the United States.

We are really just coordinating our message and ensuring that they are clear.

I concluded the meetings today by meeting people in the EFTA House, the staff of these three countries operating within the EFTA, within the EEA Agreement. «