Regional Affairs

Policy accepted June 3, 2020

That public institutions and large companies increasingly adopt remote work or location-independent jobs.

That unspoiled wilderness, the highlands, and other areas be defined as national parks and protected from human and animal encroachment.

That Icelandic nature be passed on unspoiled to future generations and national parks be managed for the public good, and not for the benefit of industries or individual companies.

That all public services are accompanied by adequate funding throughout the country and that all residents of the country live under the most similar conditions possible and can access all necessary public services in their local area.

That a third administrative level be introduced with the expansion of municipalities into regional government units.

That security in rural areas is ensured with necessary power plants, telecommunications equipment, avalanche defenses and other necessary services, and that electricity and backup power stations are available in all settlements.

That the fisheries management system be restructured so that those communities that need to rely on productive fishing grounds can prosper and the country's communities benefit from their resources.

That all communities are treated equally with social governance methods and fair distribution of power.

That social rights, including to subsistence, housing benefits, and other services, be harmonized throughout the country.

That each region possesses core infrastructure such as well-equipped and staffed hospitals and healthcare, that serves residents without admission fees or other costs, and equipment such as an air ambulance, snowplows, etc.

That the rural road system be improved without tolls and that public transport be based on social considerations, subsidized and greatly improved for each region individually.

To increase the country's sustainability by, for example, fully processing products such as fish and other foodstuffs domestically and locally.

Arts and culture to be promoted in rural areas through new creative work, and older cultural heritage to be nurtured.

Innovation will be significantly increased throughout the country in all sectors to meet technological advancements and fluctuations in individual sectors.

That within each region or quarter it will be possible to operate technical schools and universities in addition to other specialized schools at the secondary and university level, and that continuing education will be an option everywhere.

That supervision of tourism should be increased and natural gems and wilderness protected as much as possible, and ensure that tourism is accompanied by the necessary funding for infrastructure and maintenance.

That the utilization of farms, as stated in the resource policy of the Socialist Party, be subject to conditions such as residency requirements and for a specific period at a time, so that no individual or company can accumulate land.

Additional content

The Socialist Party of Iceland wants to protect settlements throughout the country, preserve nature, and ensure that the land passes unspoiled to future generations. National parks must be managed for the public good, not for the benefit of industries or individual companies, and all administration should be approached in a community-oriented manner. Restrictions shall be placed on land ownership, as the land is not an ordinary market commodity but the foundation of the nation-state. Furthermore, fishing quotas shall be reclaimed where applicable, and settlements that once flourished but have suffered damage due to quota speculation by speculators shall be compensated. In this way, the fisheries management system shall be linked to settlements throughout the country as appropriate and in accordance with the Socialist Party's policy on resource matters.

By introducing a third administrative level, with the expansion of municipalities into regional government units, it will be possible to increase decentralization and maintain administrative systems and services in smaller urban centers and rural areas (local governments). Furthermore, emphasis shall be placed on very good transport links within each municipality so that all its residents can access services within it without significant cost or effort – and the division of the country into municipalities shall take transport into account. All infrastructure shall be strengthened so that each region becomes self-sufficient and does not need to seek important services elsewhere.

The Socialist Party aims for all residents of the country to live under the most similar conditions from a public perspective and to be able to access services in their local area. Thus, public services shall be provided by municipalities and local governments, and services provided by the state shall also be distributed throughout the country. Healthcare services shall be available in municipalities, and not rely on itinerant doctors. The regional hospitals shall be greatly strengthened, and the safety of rural residents shall be ensured by developing the necessary infrastructure, such as improved healthcare services, so that each region is capable of providing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and general health care for its residents with hospitals, health centers, and nursing beds free of charge, as stated in the Socialist Party's healthcare policy. Furthermore, electricity, both two-phase and three-phase, backup power stations, and telecommunications must be ensured, in addition to maintaining avalanche protection barriers. Clear and well-known emergency response plans, including evacuation plans, must also be in place where there is a risk of volcanic eruptions or other natural disasters.

To preserve settlements around the country, and especially fragile settlements, all innovation shall be increased. This refers to increased innovation of all kinds, both beneficial for the basic industries; tourism, agriculture, energy-intensive industry, and fisheries, innovation in other technologies, but last but not least in arts and culture. These sectors directly affect the viability of residency and opportunities in tourism. To this end, opportunities for further education shall be greatly increased in the regions.

Furthermore, the profits from resources shall flow, not least, to the community projects proposed here to be carried out in rural areas, i.e., for innovation, further education, and the rebuilding of employment opportunities. Culture and arts, and higher education, shall be strengthened. On the one hand, older cultural heritage shall be nurtured and made visible, and also promoted so that new art and new art forms and other creative work can emerge in a fertile environment, including in schools and in innovation and art workshops.

The Socialist Party also wants municipalities to be enabled to operate technical schools, universities, and other specialized schools at the secondary and tertiary levels, thus giving municipalities the opportunity to specialize so that the same subjects are not necessarily taught everywhere. A condition is that dormitories and student apartments shall be operated in conjunction with schooling. Education and further education are key to innovation, and international and domestic experience shows that schooling in rural areas leads to students settling in the community and creating opportunities there. In addition, it is proposed that all secondary schools and universities in the country offer distance learning.

Public institutions and companies, especially large corporations, shall increasingly adopt location-independent jobs. This will give young people the opportunity to raise their children in healthy conditions in rural areas, in small communities that often have great social capital and mutual aid.

The Socialist Party wants increased protection of Icelandic nature and emphasizes local initiative in this regard. Rural areas possess about 40% of Europe's untouched wilderness, and these should be utilized sustainably so that the land passes unspoiled to future generations. The party emphasizes that unspoiled wilderness, the highlands, and other areas shall be designated as national parks and protected from human and animal encroachment.

Furthermore, the tourism industry shall pay for the use of shared national infrastructure, and it shall be ensured that this industry does not spoil the appearance of nature and wilderness. To this end, special oversight of tourism is needed to maintain its proper development, to ensure that tourist impact does not harm nature, such as off-road driving within national parks, etc., and that the tourism industry contributes to the normal costs of infrastructure.