The delegation was led by Karel Fiedler, Deputy Chairman of the Budget Committee, and comprised Members of the Parliament Věra Kovářová, Roman Procházka, and Josef Uhlík.

The key meeting of the Czech delegation in the Icelandic Parliament (Alþingi) saw a joint session of the Icelandic Budget Committee and the Economic Affairs & Trade Committee, led by their respective chairs Vigdís Hauksdóttir and Frosti Sigurjónsson. In addition to the issues of taxation and tackling tax evasion, the MPs debated areas for a further expansion of economic cooperation between the Czech Republic and Iceland.

Talks in the Central Bank of Iceland focused on the approach of the state to solving the Icelandic banking crisis of 2008-2009, and on the capital restrictions: Once lifted, the Icelandic market will fully open to international investors.

An extensive meeting in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs was conducted by the Permanent Secretary Guðmundur Árnason. He was accompanied by Directors General and senior experts from the Ministry’s Department of Fiscal Affairs, Department of Economic Affairs and Financial Services, Department of Taxation, and Department of Public Management and Reform. Among the topics debated were the state budget, tax collection, and counter-cyclical fiscal policies.

The Czech delegation had further meetings in Reykjavík with Jón Þór Sturluson, Deputy Director General of the Financial Supervisory Authority (FME), and with Jón Gunnar Jónsson, General Director of the Icelandic State Financial Investments (ISFI). The Czech MPs also met with Ögmundur Skarphéðinsson, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Iceland.

 

In the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget), the guests from the Czech Republic were received by a delegation of the partner Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, led by chairman Hans Olav Syversen. The discussion pertained to the current economic situation, tax reform and budgetary positions of Norway and the Czech Republic.

The Czech MPs were welcomed at the Ministry of Finance by Minister Siv Jensen, and the subsequent meeting on economic projections for Norway was led by State Secretary Paal Bjørnestad.

Opening remarks for the specialised expert programme at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs were held by State Secretary Christl Kvam. The programme was further hosted by Jiří Klaška, Special Director for Norwegian labour market. The Norwegian social security system, the pension reform and employment policies were explained by experts from the Ministry and from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV).

At the final meeting in the Norges Bank Investment Management, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Trond Grande provided a presentation of The Government Pension Fund Global, which saves petroleum revenues for future generations in Norway.

Josef Smyček, Deputy Head of Mission at the Czech Embassy in Oslo, accompanied the delegation at the meetings with the Icelandic and Norwegian partners. The meeting at the Norwegian Ministry of Finance was attended by Ambassador Milan Dufek who also received the Czech MPs at the Embassy in Oslo.