UK actions against Iceland harshly criticized
Overreaction of the UK government against Iceland was harshly criticized at the Executive committee of BUSINESSEUROPE in Brussels last Thursday. Director General of the Federation of Industries in Iceland Jón Steindor Valdimarsson explained how statements against the country made by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the chancellor Alistair Darling had made the situation much worse.
The use of terrorist law against Iceland, declarations that the country was bankrupt, along with statements the island would not stand up to its obligations abroad, had serious consequences for Icelandic businesses and the economy in whole. Instead of aiming at the cause of the trouble for UK Icesave savers, Landsbanki, the ministers generalised their actions to the whole country.
According to Mr. Valdimarsson the meeting agreed to warn against such actions of governments towards other countries in order to protect their own interests. One-sided actions only led to further problems.
BUSINESSEUROPE has 40 member organizations based in member states of the European Union, the European Ecnomic Area and some central and Eastern Europe countries. Since its establishment following the Treaty of Rome in 1958 it has endeavored to foster solidarity between its member organizations. It also acts as an advocate to the European institutions and encourages competitive industrial policy within the continent.