Halldór Ásgrímsson is the new Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers from 1 January 2007. Halldór can take a large part of the credit for transforming Iceland into an open, affluent and global society during his long political career. He has said that the Nordic countries have no choice but to face the challenges of globalisation and wrestle with them together. The new Secretary General is not announcing any revolution in the activities of the Nordic Council of Ministers but says he believes in continuity.

Sailor - accountant - politician

"My roots are in the ancient Icelandic society," recounts Halldór Ásgrimsson. As a young man Halldór Ásgrímsson took traditional jobs in agriculture and fishing but at an early age Ásgrímsson chose a different career than was expected of him. "When I was 14 I went out fishing and I really wanted to be a sailor. But I was always seasick so I ended up doing something else", explained Halldór

Halldór chose to study accountancy at the University of Iceland at an early age and graduated as a chartered accountant when he was only 23 years old. Halldór continued his education by studying abroad in Bergen and Copenhagen. After his return home in 1973, having completed his further education and having lived in two other Nordic countries, Halldór set his course towards political work.

30 years in politics

Back in Iceland Halldór Ásgrímsson was offered a place on the Progressive Party’s election list for the Østfjords constituency before the general election in 1974. He accepted the place and that turned out to be a decision with major consequences. He sat in parliament from 1974 to 2006 with only one year's break. So Halldór was a member of parliament for more than three decades and held ministerial positions for almost 20 years, most recently as Prime Minister.

Towards the end of his political career Halldór ran for election closer to the centre of power, in the capital Reykjavik, which can be seen as a step in his efforts to transform the Progressive Party from a farming and rural party to a modern liberal party, which has backing as much in the capital as in the scattered populated areas in Iceland.

Late in his political life Halldór decided to retire as Prime Minister after having held the post for just under two years. He himself explained that it was a sudden and unusual decision. Halldór said that he had to take responsibility for the poor results of the Progressive Party at a local election in May. It is almost unprecedented in Iceland for a party leader to leave the front line unprovoked, as the result of an election defeat. Does he perhaps want to set an example for other Icelandic politicians?

"No, I do not want to influence other people", Halldór says. "I think that things have gone very well for me in politics, and I myself believe that I have benefited in several different areas. But I came to the decision that this was the moment for me, and it was time for a change."

International relations and Nordic heritage

Halldór is a modern Nordic and speaks with the confidence of one: "We grew up reading the Icelandic sagas, including the sagas of the Norwegian kings and Snorre's Edda. So we learned that Nordic society started very early, and how close the connections between the Nordic countries were, long before the year 1000, but also after that. This was a heyday in Iceland's history, not least due to Nordic relations. I am on of the opinion that this heritage is the greatest wealth that we Icelanders have, and it is important for us to cultivate it. We are deeply grateful to the other Nordic countries for their willingness to recognise Iceland as their equal, even though we are by far the smallest country and, as a result, contribute the least in financial terms to Nordic co-operation.

We have now become part of the great wide world with the advantages and disadvantages that come with that. Out there you have to compete successfully, the competition is tough. The contrast exists in the fact that, in reality, globalisation has turned all the Nordic states into small countries. There is not the same difference as there was several decades ago. It no longer matters so much whether a nation has 500,000 inhabitants, five million or ten million, they are all small countries. We have to stick together. Only ten years ago many voices could be heard claiming that Nordic co-operation was an anachronism and that European co-operation was all that mattered. So I am pleased with the agreement which prevailed at the Nordic Council Session in 2006, that the countries must put new life into Nordic co-operation."

The Nordic countries closer together in the EU

In Icelandic politics Halldór has been an enthusiastic spokesman for putting membership of the EU onto the agenda. What does he believe would be the consequences for Nordic co-operation if all the countries were members of the EU?

"Nordic co-operation would be strengthened without a doubt. In that case the Nordic countries would all be on the same lines and have the same influence in Europe. This would make Nordic co-operation closer. I have taken part in this co-operation throughout my entire political career and it cannot be denied that, to a certain extent, Iceland and Norway take an outsider position with regard to European co-operation. Nordic co-operation is, however, the most effective instrument we have to get influence in one shape or form. We will not get anything through the EU without help from, and in close collaboration with, the Nordic member states."

New challenges

Halldór is looking forward to his new challenges as Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers: "I have now an opportunity to move into a political field which I have always been very interested in. I am happy to have made this choice and pleased at how well I have been received."

When asked what his priorities in the new job will be, Halldór replies hesitantly at first:

"I have never been one for revolutions. I have always believed in continuity and I intend to build on the basis that has been established here. But of course it the countries' governments which draw the lines and the Prime Ministers have decided that the Nordic countries will strengthen and increase their co-operation in the international arena, in areas such as education, research, new technology and others which would influence the countries' competitiveness. I find that very sensible."

Halldór says that there are several major questions which need to be addressed and mentions the environment and the fight against organised crime. "Co-operation with the adjacent areas is also high on the Council of Ministers' agenda. The most important is co-operation with the Baltic States and North-West Russia. The Baltic States have achieved an incredible amount in a short time, and I believe that this is not least linked to the close co-operation with the Nordic countries. This partnership is quite unique. If there had been a similar type of co-operation in the Balkans, I am convinced that a very different situation would have prevailed there, just to give an example. Contacts with Russia are very important, and I will weigh them highly."

Opportunities for Arctic co-operation

Halldór also mentions the regional co-operation in the North-west with Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and northern Norway as important. “This co-operation is closely connected to the co-operation that is already underway in the Northern Areas, in the Arctic Council, The Barents Euro-Arctic Council, and the EU’s Northern Dimension. For many years I have been interested in co-operation with the countries around the North Pole and I think it is important that this is a top priority, not least because of the exploitation of natural resources and environmental problems. This also gives us a good opportunity for working in closer partnership with Russia and the USA. Once again this shows that co-operation between small countries is even more meaningful if it is successfully connected with some greater unity. In exactly the same way as Nordic co-operation is turned to account, for example, within European co-operation we can make use of this in our connections with Russia and the USA."

Halldór is very concerned with the question of climate change because of the consequences it may have on the sensitive nature in the northern regions as a result of the greenhouse effect. "If agreement is reached on using taxation and other methods to get more fuel-saving cars on the roads, this in itself will be greater progress than the Kyoto agreement. The USA is not party to this co-operation and neither are large Asian countries like India and China. However, if the development of new technology is successful, creating more fuel-saving cars, aeroplanes and ships, as well as new sources of energy, there will be the chance of achieving great results. I believe that the Nordic region ought to spare no efforts in these issues."

Stronger together

Halldór Ásgrímsson is not worried about the risk that the basic Nordic values of reciprocal help, welfare, equality and the prioritisation of national culture will disappear, even though the Nordic countries focus attention on improving their competitiveness during globalisation. "On the contrary. Globalisation is a fact. I believe that the Nordic countries could find much greater global strength, if we work together. If we do not, we will drift apart and the Nordic values will suffer. We have to develop in consideration of the facts as they emerge. We must look to the future in the light of reality, and we will do that much better together than each country individually."

Facts about Halldór Ásgrímsson

Born in Vopnafjörður 8 September 1947.  

Chartered accountant from the University of Iceland 1970, graduate studies at the Bergen and Copenhagen Universities of Commerce 1971-1973.

Lecturer at the University of Iceland - faculty of economics and business administration 1973-1975.

Member of the Althingi (Icelandic Parliament) 1974-78; 1979--2006.

Minister for Fisheries 1983-91. Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs 1988-89. Minister for Foreign Affairs 1995-2004; Prime Minister 2004-2006. Minister for Nordic Co-operation 1985-1987 and 1995-1999.

Chairman of the Progressive Party 1994-2006. Previously Vice-Chairman of the Progressive Party from 1980.

Member of the Icelandic Delegation to the Nordic Council for many years, and Chairman of same 1982-1983 and 1993-1995.

Member of the Presidium of the Nordic Council 1981-1983 and 1991-1995.

Chairman of the Liberal Group of the Nordic Council 1992-1995.

Halldór is married to medical secretary, Sigurjóna Sigurðardóttir. They have three daughters.