Debate heats up in Iceland over EEA law amendments and Protocol 35

Public debate in Iceland has intensified in recent weeks over proposed changes to the EEA Act (No. 2/1993). The controversy focuses particularly on Protocol 35 of the EEA Agreement. This Protocol concerns how Iceland incorporates rules from the European Economic Area (EEA) into domestic law. The discussion has drawn national attention, with several leading Icelandic media outlets, including mbl.is and Vísir, reporting on the controversy.

According to a recent opinion piece in Morgunblaðið, the obligations of Protocol 35 are sometimes overlooked amid what the paper calls an emotional public debate about amending the EEA Act. The article suggests that more attention needs to be paid to the actual requirements of the Protocol.

A Vísir article analysed the current controversy over altering EEA legislation as being significantly shaped by two opposing positions. On one side, some argue that Iceland is required to enshrine the primacy of EEA rules in its national laws in order to meet its treaty obligations. The other side claims that such moves would represent an undue transfer of legislative power away from Iceland’s own parliament.

Cybersecurity enters the conversation

In parallel to the EEA law discussion, Europe’s stance on cybersecurity has shifted in recent years. What was once primarily seen as a technical concern for companies and institutions is now considered central to national security, preparedness, and economic stability. A Vísir commentary argued that Iceland should also revise its approach to cybersecurity, suggesting that this area is increasingly relevant in the context of national legal and policy debates.

TopicscybersecurityEEAIcelandlawpoliticsProtocol 35