DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH SWITZERLAND, NORWAY, TO THE EU- JPC AND TO THE EEA JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE (SINEEA)

MISSION REPORT Reykjavik, Iceland (13 February 2018), which included 10th - WEST INTERPARLIAMENTARY MEETING (IPM)

Participating Members:

Ms Anna HEDH, S&D 1st Vice-Chair

Ms Daniela AIUTO EFDD

Ms Jill EVANS Greens/EFA

Ms Julia PITERA EPP

Summary The special common geographic and cultural conditions of the , and Iceland were subject to political discussions of the early 1980s. Subsequently, the three West Nordic countries and territories agreed to establish a joint parliamentary organisation, the West Nordic Council. The ‘West Nordic Parliamentarian Council of Cooperation’ was formed in 1985. In 1997, the name was changed to the West Nordic Council when the member parliaments approved the Council’s present Charter. The EU-WNC inter-parliamentary meeting (IPM) meets annually either in the WNC territories or in the European Parliament. This year, the three Presidium members met with the EP SINEEA Delegation in Reykjavik on 13 February 2018 for the 10th IPM, while the 9th EU- WNC IPM was held in Brussels on 29 June 2017.

1 Relations between the EU and the three members of the West Nordic Council go beyond the specific main sectors of interest for each of them, e.g. fisheries for Faroe Islands (and for the other two as well), education and vocational training for Greenland, and research and innovation for Iceland. All three West Nordic Council members are also part of organisations of great importance for the EU, like the Nordic Council of Ministers (and its parliamentary dimension, the Nordic Council) and the Council (and its parliamentary dimension, the Conference of the Arctic Parliamentarians). The West Nordic Council was granted the observer status in the Arctic Council during the 2017 Ministerial meeting in Fairbanks. Iceland, and the EU (and therefore ) are parties of the Northern Dimension policy (along with Norway and Russia). The West Nordic Council members, although they are not part of the EU, are among its closest partners. Faroe Islands and Greenland as integral parts of the Denmark Realm. Moreover Greenland is also part of the EU’s Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). Iceland is member of the European Economic Area (EEA) (and therefore of the Single Market) and of the Schengen Agreement. Iceland, was also an EU candidate country from 2010 until 2015. Furthermore, the Nordic heritage of all the West Nordic Council members remains also a strong bound for their relations with the EU. More...

The following meetings/visits took place:

 EP delegation briefing by the Head of EU delegation Mr Michael Mann The Ambassador briefed the delegation on the political situation in Iceland focusing on the main goals of the governing coalition – stability, disposing of the crisis traumatism, massive tourism industry and its consequences, infrastructure (housing, roads, tourism), ambitious climate change goals, gender equality. Common interests/problems with the EU – Brexit, similar Arctic priorities, cooperation with the EU. Cooperation with the EUD was excellent before and during the whole mission.

 10th EU-WNC IPM Overview of the latest developments and activities Representatives of Iceland and Faroe Islands briefed on the political and economic situation, with Brexit dominating the discourse both in Iceland and the Faroe islands. A point of concern for the WNC countries is the increased tensions between NATO and Russia. MEPs shared the WNC Members' concerns regarding Brexit. Regarding the latest developments, MEPs referred to the last IPM in Brussels on 29 June 2017 and underlined that EU continued its efforts to ensure awareness of consumers and customs officers of the Inuit exception and EU's support to it; they also thanked the Faroe Islands' representatives for the information provided on their practices of whale hunting.

2 The EP has hosted the successful Fifth Northern Dimension parliamentary forum on 22 November 2017, with wide participation, inter alia, of Members of regional inter-parliamentary organizations, governmental institutions and councils. Furthermore, the EP was pleased to receive on 23 January 2018 Members of the Faroese parliament and hold lunch debate on the topical issues on the political agenda in the Faroe Islands, reform of Faroese fisheries management and the Faroese foreign relations. Arctic issues Mr Bjarnsson (MP, Iceland) presented the Arctic strategy of the WNC with its three areas of common interest: free trade, transport and infrastructure, and fishing, underlining the Members' belief that together they can become a strong . Obtaining the observer status in the Arctic Council in May 2017 was a great milestone for the WNC and their active participation/observation of the Nordic/Arctic bodies is a priority. Drug prevention is a huge challenge for the WNC societies. EP speakers - Ms Julia PITERA, Ms Daniela AIUTO, Ms Jill EVANS underlined EP's interest in the Arctic, especially regarding climate change, environment and cooperation. China's new interest in the region is seen as the area of concern, especially the Belt and Road initiative – the new Silk Road, including the use of Arctic waters (North-West passage) and its likely negative consequences (black carbon, conflict of interest, Chinese army in the North). Ms Hedh took the opportunity, once again, to ask for Iceland's and WNC's support for the EU's observer status in the Arctic Council. Gender issues Topic proposed by the EP and very appreciated by all Members. Presentation of the Icelandic Equal Pay Act received huge attention by MEPs and the WNC Members. Gender pay gap in WNC has been increasing recently, especially in remote areas. MEPs underlined that the EU was working in the same direction and Iceland's progress in the area was admirable. It should be noted, however, that eliminating pay gap does not eliminate other gender related problems, e.g., domestic violence which is at the similar levels in Iceland and the EU. Marine resources Not enough time left for this debate and due to Greenland's absence from the meeting, the Chair only read out the written contribution. It underlined that the WNC still called for the EU to launch an information campaign for consumers with the purpose to inform them that the seals in Greenland were being killed "humanely" and are hunted sustainably. The ban on import of sealskins to the EU, despite the Inuit exemption, has damaged the sales of sealskin to the European market. The Faroe Islands underlined their right to hunt the pilot whale. The catch is on a sustainable basis, yet they feel the consequences of the campaigns of animal welfare organizations that have led to some boycott.

 Study visit to the Ocean House (industry start-up cluster) The Ocean Cluster House opened its doors in 2012. Its mission is to create value and discover new opportunities by connecting entrepreneurs, businesses and knowledge in the marine industries. In the beginning twelve companies had offices in the facilities but they are now over

3 70. Recent study by the Iceland Ocean Cluster shows that over 70% of the companies in the Ocean Cluster House have collaborated with another company in this facility. The Ocean Cluster House is not government subsidized. Conclusions Very timely and informative mission feeding into the EP’s on-going and future work on the North. Possible follow-up Continue yearly inter-parliamentary meetings with West Nordic Partners. Propose to the EP FEMM committee to take into account the Icelandic experience in dealing with gender issues, notably the Icelandic legislation on Equal Pay Certification, approved by Althingi in June 2017 and the Equal Pay Standard ÍST 85, as good practice to follow.

Attachments:  Programme  List of participants

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