From Iceland — Ministries To Combine And Change

Ministries To Combine And Change

Published July 6, 2012

A measure was approved today that would merge and re-purpose several ministries, taking effect in early September.
Last year, the Prime Minister submitted a proposal calling for a number of ministries to be combined together to form new ones. Yesterday, the president signed the changes made to this proposal into a definitive ruling.
The ruling will have the ministries of fishing, agriculture, economics and business combine into a single entity, called the Ministry of Employment and Innovation, and will be led by Steingrímur J. Sigfússon. Minister of Finance Oddný G. Harðardóttir will become the Minister of Finance and Economics, and current Minister for the Environment Svandís Svavarsdóttir will head the Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources.
These changes will go into effect on September 4.
This is not the first time ministries have been combined. In 2010, the ministries of health and social affairs were merged into one Ministry of Welfare, and the ministries of justice and transportation became the Ministry of the Interior.

Support The Reykjavík Grapevine!
Buy subscriptions, t-shirts and more from our shop right here!

Show Me More!