At a Crossroads: Iceland in the International System
Institute of International AffairsJoin us for a discussion on Iceland and international cooperation at our annual conference held in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry, the Nordic House, the Institute for Public Administration and Politics at the University of Iceland and the Icelandic Political Scientist Association on April 19th from 10:00 - 17:00 at Veröld - House of Vigdis at the University of Iceland.
All are welcome. The first panel of the conference will be in English, and the rest of the conference will be in Icelandic but we will offer simultaneous translation in English.
As at previous conferences we will discuss and analyse the current trends in international affairs and Iceland's position in the international system.
At this years conference, we will highlight the following themes in five panels; Nordic Cooperation in a Changed Security Environment, Arctic Security in Turbulent Times, The International Refugee Regime and its limitations and The Role of the Council of Europe. At the end of the day we will lead MP's from all political parties represented in the Icelandic parliament into a panel discussion on Iceland's foreign policy.
10:00-10:10 Welcoming words
Sabina Westerholm, Director, Nordic House
Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland
10:10 - 10:20 Opening remarks
Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs
10:20 – 11:15 War in Europe: Nordic Cooperation in a Changing Security Environment
Jakob Hallgren, Director, Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI), Kristin Haugevik, Senior Research Fellow at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Pia Hansson, Director of the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland (IIA), Samu Paukkunen, Deputy Director, Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) and Ulrik Pram Gad, Senior Researcher, Danish Institute of International Studies (DIIS)
Moderator Auðunn Atlason, Foreign Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister of Iceland
11:15 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:30 Arctic Governance Challenges in Turbulent Times
Keynote address Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, Professor of International Relations, University of Iceland
Panel Discussion Ari Trausti Guðmundsson, geologist and former Parliamentarian, Áslaug Ásgeirsdóttir, Professor of Political Science at Bates College, Maine, Kristín Linda Árnadóttir, Deputy CEO of Landsvirkjun National Power Company of Iceland and Þórunn W. Pétursdóttir, Director of the Icelandic Climate Council
Moderator Þóra Arnórsdóttir, Director of Communication at Landsvirkjun National Power Company of Iceland
12:30 – 13:00 Light Lunch
13:00 – 13:50 Has the International Refugee Regime Failed? The Road to Better Protection
Keynote address Hugo Brady, Senior Strategic Advisor at the International Center for Migration Policy Development, Vienna
Panel Discussion Claudia Ashanie Wilson, Lawyer and Owner of Claudia & Partners Legal Services, Eva Bjarnadóttir, Human Rights Specialist and Sessional Teacher at the University of Iceland, Jasmina Vajzovic Crnac, Political Scientist and Nína Helgadóttir, Program Manager, Humanitarian Diplomacy at the Icelandic Red Cross
Moderator Svanhildur Þorvaldsdóttir, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Political Science, University of Iceland
13:50 –14:00 Coffee Break
14:00 –14:50 Human rights, Democracy and the Role of the Council of Europe
Keynote address Guðfríður Lilja Grétarsdóttir, Head of the Cooperation Programmes Division, Council of Europe
Panel discussion Björg Thorarensen, Supreme Court Judge, Þórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir, Deput Chair to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Þórlindur Kjartansson, Political Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland
Moderator Ingólfur Bjarni Sigfússon, Senior Correspondent at the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, RÚV
14:50 – 15:50 Where to and Why? Iceland’s role in the International System
A Debate with Representatives from the Political Parties in the Icelandic Parliament
Panel discussion Gísli Rafn Ólafsson, MP for the Pirate Party, Jakob Frímann Magnússon, MP for the People's Party, Jóhann Friðrik Friðriksson, MP for the Progressive Party, Jón Steindór Valdimarsson, lawyer and deputy MP for the Liberal Reform Party, Logi Einarsson, MP and Chairman for the parliamentarian group of the Social Democratic Alliance, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, MP and Chairman of the Center Party, Steinunn Þóra Árnadóttir, MP for the Left-Green Movement and Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs and MP for the Independence Party
Moderator Sigmundur Ernir Rúnarsson, Author and former Editor-in-Chief of Fréttablaðið
15:50 – 16:00 Final remarks Guðmundur Hálfdánarson, Professor of History and Chair of the Board of the Institute of International Affairs
16:00 – 17:00 Reception and Comic Relief with Villi Neto
