Conference in Reykjavik City Hall Wednesday September 14 on improving democracy within the state and the municipalities

The conference is organized in cooperation with the City of Reykjavik and the Association of Icelandic Municipalities. It is open for municipality representatives and all those interested in the question how to improve democracy. There will also be presented views from municipalities that have already some experience in this field.

The aim of the conference is to emphasize and promote the discussion on how democracy in Iceland can be expanded and how we can implement direct democracy by further enhancing the participation of the citizens in the process of decision-making of the state and municipalities.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

10.15 til 11.10:

Ragnhildur Hjaltadóttir Permanent Secretary and conference moderator: Introduction of the conference program 

Jón Gnarr Mayor of Reykjavík: Adress

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of Iceland: Adress 

Ögmundur Jónasson Minister of the Interior: Power to the People

11.10 til 12.20:

Regína Ásvaldsdóttir, director of the mayor's office: The villages within the City – development of direct democracy and local service in the City of Reykjavík 

Andreas Konstantinides, chairman of the district community of Rosengaard, Sweden: District community experience in Rosengaard

12.20 til 12.50:
Lunch-break

12.50 til 14.15:

Íris Ellenberger, board member of the democracy association Aldan: Direct democracy within the municipalities 

Bruno Kaufmann, chairman for Initiative and Referendum Institute Europe: Towards Modern Representative Democracy – and the Growing Role of Direct Democracy Tools in Switzerland and Beyond

Exhibition opened: Modern direct democracy in Switzerland and Iceland 

14.15 til 16.15:

Workshops: Moderators Salvör Nordal and Óskar Dýrmundur Ólafsson 

16.15 til 17.00:

Conference round up 

Salvör Nordal: Summary

Ögmundur Jónasson Minister of the Interior: Conference closing

Cooperating partners: