Form an executive committee for Grindavík affairs

The Icelandic government decided this morning to submit to the Icelandic parliament a bill by the Minister of Infrastructure, Svandís Svavarsdóttir, to create a special executive committee for the matter of Grindavík town because of the impact of earthquakes on the region and society.

The bill proposes that the committee handles the management, organization, and coordination of operations, ensures effective cooperation with the municipality and public bodies, and has a comprehensive overview of the issues of Grindavík.

This is stated in an announcement on the website of the Government.

It is stated that the bill was prepared in collaboration with the town council of Grindavík, which requested collaboration on the arrangement and management of projects under unusual circumstances due to the earthquakes and volcanic activity in Grindavík. The executive committee is proposed to be appointed temporarily and the law expires at the next municipal elections in 2026.

The aim of creating a clear framework

“Grindavík residents have dealt with many challenging projects this winter due to earthquakes. In these projects, they have demonstrated great solidarity and have been supported by all the country's people. The government has continually presented measures necessary to accommodate the community in Grindavík and this work continues. The purpose of the special executive committee is to create a clear framework for the projects ahead and ensure that they are resolved. The main goal is for the community of Grindvík residents to be able to prosper and to nurture the people of the town for the future,” the announcement quotes Svavarsdóttir as saying.

The bill also states that the executive committee on the matter of Grindavík will be a multi-partisan and independent governmental authority with a multi-faceted remit, which will deal with issues related to the seismic activity near Grindavík. By establishing a special law on the work of the executive committee, the role and mandate of the committee will be clarified.

Grindavík town council will continue to be in charge of the municipality

Furthermore, the town council of Grindavík will continue to be in charge of the municipality’s management, and staffing and responsible for and have full financial management authority over legal and non-legislative projects, that are not specifically assigned to the executive committee.

The executive committee will be composed of three members and will take office once the bill has passed. The Minister of Infrastructure will appoint one member, who will also be the chair, and the Minister of Education and Children and the Minister of Justice will appoint one member each, the announcement states.

Key projects

“The Commission’s projects are mainly related to social services and the construction and repair of important infrastructure in Grindavík. Many of these projects have been carried out by the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management and other government agencies. The main projects of the Commission are:

Form working teams for services in the field of welfare and school services for the people from Grindavík, such as school- and activities for children, social services, children protection services, services for seniors, disabled people, and other vulnerable groups, and support in the area of housing and work-related issues.

Furthermore, the Commission is supposed to have oversight of necessary repairs to social infrastructure and surveying of soil. Also with necessary repairs to ensure the functioning and delivery security of important infrastructure etc.

The Commission is also in charge of supervision of the protection of valuables and the implementation of access control in Grindavík town in cooperation with the police.

The Minister of Infrastructure will also be able to entrust the committee with the coordination of projects that may be in the hands of other governing bodies, with the agreement of the related ministries. Finally, the municipal council of Grindavík will also be able to entrust the committee with certain legal or non-legislative projects,” the announcement states.