Transparency International calls for greater funding transparency in Iceland

Transparency International Iceland has highlighted a lack of transparency regarding the funding of groups and movements participating in public debates, specifically concerning the referendum on European Union membership negotiations.

Currently, Icelandic regulations do not impose the same disclosure requirements on interest groups, companies, or movements as they do on political parties. This means these organizations are not required to disclose their financial contributions, nor are they subject to the same public oversight. The National Audit Office has noted that there is currently no way to track the source of funding for 'yes' and 'no' campaign groups.

International standards, including recommendations from the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption group GRECO, emphasize that the public should know the origins of funds used to influence political decision-making. The goal of such transparency is to bolster trust in democratic processes and allow voters to evaluate information based on the interests behind it.