First Intercultural Policy approved
The City Council approved a new policy for the Intercultural City of Reykjavík 2026-2030 this week. This is the first policy of its kind that defines Reykjavík as an Intercultural City.
At the City Council meeting on Nov. 18, the council approved referring the Intercultural City of Reykjavík policy to the consultation process through Reykjavík City's Consultation Portal. The consultation process started Nov. 21 and ended Dec. 9. The City received seven official statements. The City Council then approved the draft Intercultural Policy on Tuesday, taking the official statements into account.
Vision for the Intercultural City of Reykjavík
A steering group for policy on the Intercultural City of Reykjavík was established last February. The group was tasked with developing a comprehensive policy addressing the needs of immigrants, refugees, and applicants for international protection. The focus was to be on inclusion, equality, and active participation for all residents of the city.
The steering group's goal was to ensure that multicultural values were reflected in all of the city's policies and services, and that the contributions of immigrants would be more highly valued. The steering group was tasked with reviewing the approach to this entire policy area and creating a clear vision for the Intercultural City of Reykjavík.
The policy serves as a guiding principle for all city operations, and its priorities are incorporated into Reykjavík's activities and overall policy. This work is based on the best available knowledge and experience. The action plan ensures that all city departments review how their operations as an employer, service provider, and partner affect this group of residents.