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Vikings want to plunder continental Europe again
I say it's enough
Iceland submits EU membership application
Iceland has formally presented its membership bid to the European Union. Membership talks are expected to be relatively swift but there are still several stumbling blocks for the Nordic nation.
Iceland's Foreign Minister Ossur Skarphedinsson presented the Nordic nation's application to his Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt, whose country currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency.
Bildt said having Iceland in the EU would enhance the bloc's "Nordic dimension." He also said that there were "significantly fewer chapters" for the EU and Iceland to negotiate during membership talks.
Iceland is already a member of the European Economic Area and is also a part of the Schengen zone, which allows uninhibited travel across Europe. But there are still several sticking points, including fishing and agriculture policy.
"Many people think it will be very fast negotiations," Skarphedinsson said on Thursday. "I'm not so sure – I think it could be difficult negotiations."
Skarphedinsson said, however, that he believed Iceland would become a member within three years.
If the EU approves Iceland's bid, the final hurdle will be a referendum in which Icelanders have the final decision on whether their country joins the bloc.
A poll earlier this year showed that 60 percent of Icelanders supported EU membership.
Jumping the queue
Many analysts believe that Iceland will be the next country to become a member of the European Union – jumping ahead of Croatia, which had been expected to be the next to join.
Croatia's bid has stalled over a border dispute with Slovenia, which dates back to the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.
Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said on Thursday that she would soon meet with Slovenian Premier Borut Pahor, adding that she expected progress in the dispute in the near future.
"I am full of optimism," Kosor said.
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that, after six months of EU mediation, it was now up to Croatia and Slovenia to find a solution.
Croatia had hoped to wrap up membership negotiations this year and accede next year or in 2011.
Macedonian membership
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said on Thursday that Macedonia could win the backing of the EU Commission and begin membership talks in the next few months, but only if it passed a number of reforms first.
"The Commission recommendation on the start of negotiations will depend only on the results delivered," he said.
"We will not shift the goal posts; it will be fair play."
Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership since 2005 but has so far failed in its bid to begin talks as a result of the slow pace of reforms, such as changes to its judiciary system and fighting corruption.
Iceland has formally presented its membership bid to the European Union. Membership talks are expected to be relatively swift but there are still several stumbling blocks for the Nordic nation.
Iceland's Foreign Minister Ossur Skarphedinsson presented the Nordic nation's application to his Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt, whose country currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency.
Bildt said having Iceland in the EU would enhance the bloc's "Nordic dimension." He also said that there were "significantly fewer chapters" for the EU and Iceland to negotiate during membership talks.
Iceland is already a member of the European Economic Area and is also a part of the Schengen zone, which allows uninhibited travel across Europe. But there are still several sticking points, including fishing and agriculture policy.
"Many people think it will be very fast negotiations," Skarphedinsson said on Thursday. "I'm not so sure – I think it could be difficult negotiations."
Skarphedinsson said, however, that he believed Iceland would become a member within three years.
If the EU approves Iceland's bid, the final hurdle will be a referendum in which Icelanders have the final decision on whether their country joins the bloc.
A poll earlier this year showed that 60 percent of Icelanders supported EU membership.
Jumping the queue
Many analysts believe that Iceland will be the next country to become a member of the European Union – jumping ahead of Croatia, which had been expected to be the next to join.
Croatia's bid has stalled over a border dispute with Slovenia, which dates back to the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.
Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said on Thursday that she would soon meet with Slovenian Premier Borut Pahor, adding that she expected progress in the dispute in the near future.
"I am full of optimism," Kosor said.
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that, after six months of EU mediation, it was now up to Croatia and Slovenia to find a solution.
Croatia had hoped to wrap up membership negotiations this year and accede next year or in 2011.
Macedonian membership
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said on Thursday that Macedonia could win the backing of the EU Commission and begin membership talks in the next few months, but only if it passed a number of reforms first.
"The Commission recommendation on the start of negotiations will depend only on the results delivered," he said.
"We will not shift the goal posts; it will be fair play."
Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership since 2005 but has so far failed in its bid to begin talks as a result of the slow pace of reforms, such as changes to its judiciary system and fighting corruption.
Parliamentarians in Iceland have paved the way for accession talks with the European Union. Iceland's government plans to launch its EU membership bid in Brussels before the end of this month.
The Icelandic parliament, the Althingi, gave the green light for the government to bid for membership in the European Union, with 33 of the nation's 63 parliamentarians voting in favor of the proposal.
A total of 32 votes were required to pass the proposal, but opposition to the move was limited to 28 lawmakers, while another two abstained.
Thursday's narrow victory came as a relief to crisis-stricken Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, who hopes to stabilize Iceland's economy by joining the 27-member bloc.
In the end, however, it will be the citizens of Iceland who will have the final word on whether the government pursues membership. If and when Iceland completes successful accession negotiations with the European Union, the question will then be put to the people in a referendum.
Divisions within the government
Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna SigurdardottirBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Prime Minister Sigurdardottir says only EU membership can save Iceland's economyThe governing coalition itself remained divided over the benefits of EU membership for Iceland – a country which is dramatically affected by the economic crisis.
While Sigurdardottir's Social Democrats have always campaigned for joining the bloc, their Left-Green coalition partners are traditionally opposed to the idea. Five members of the Left Green party therefore rejected the proposition, including Jon Bjarnason, the minister of agriculture and fisheries.
Other Left-Green deputies including Finance Minister Steingrimur Sigfusson, however, displayed political pragmatism by voting for the EU membership application along government lines.
"An overwhelming majority wants this EU issue to be dealt with," Sigfusson said.
Pros and cons
One of the main EU pull factors for the large majority of Icelanders is the chance to drop the Icelandic krona as a currency. It shed nearly half its value in the wake of last year's financial crash, while inflation rose to over 12 percent. As a small island state with just 320.000 citizens, Iceland relies heavily on imports.
The strongest opposition to Iceland's EU membership comes from the fishing and agricultural industries. They are opposed to handing over the control over Iceland's lucrative fishing grounds to Brussels.
"We would no longer be the lawmakers on how we run our fishing industry. This is the key element for us. And we just don't see any need for an application when you know what the outcome is going to be," said Sigurdur Sverrisson from the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners (LIU).
If and how Iceland could keep the control over this vital part of the economy while having to join the – currently unsuccessful - common EU fisheries policy will be one of the most important and tricky questions during the accession talks.
Popular support
Eurosceptic protests in Reykjavik were low-key Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Eurosceptic protests in Reykjavik were low-key According to the most recent figures, around 70 percent of Icelanders support the launch of EU accession talks. "I would like to talk and find out what we can get and what we'd have to give," is an often-heard comment on Reykjavik's streets these days.
The nation remains divided over the prospect of full membership in the bloc, however, with many citizens complaining about a lack of information.
Unlike Norway, Iceland has never applied to the EU because the majority of politicians were against it. "What we have seen in the last few months is a shift in political leadership rather than a great shift in the public opinion, although the public opinion for membership of course strengthened due to the economic crisis," concludes Adalsteinn Leifsson from Reykjavik University.
Hope for speedy progress
Iceland's Foreign Minister Össur Skarpedinsson, a leading Social Democrat, has already outlined an ambitious agenda for the accession procedures. Iceland plans to launch its application in time for the next meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers on July 27.
The fact that Iceland is already a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the border-free Schengen zone means accession talks are likely to be relatively short. Around two thirds of all Icelandic legislation is already in line with EU rules.
It is widely viewed as favorable for Iceland that another Nordic country, Sweden, currently holds the EU presidency. "We don't hide the fact that we want our friends to support us," said Skarpedinsson.
The Swedes support a speedy negotiation process with Iceland, and EU officials mentioned 2011 or 2012 as possible accession dates. A referendum will be held, meaning the Icelandic citizens will have the last say in the matter.
The Icelandic parliament, the Althingi, gave the green light for the government to bid for membership in the European Union, with 33 of the nation's 63 parliamentarians voting in favor of the proposal.
A total of 32 votes were required to pass the proposal, but opposition to the move was limited to 28 lawmakers, while another two abstained.
Thursday's narrow victory came as a relief to crisis-stricken Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, who hopes to stabilize Iceland's economy by joining the 27-member bloc.
In the end, however, it will be the citizens of Iceland who will have the final word on whether the government pursues membership. If and when Iceland completes successful accession negotiations with the European Union, the question will then be put to the people in a referendum.
Divisions within the government
Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna SigurdardottirBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Prime Minister Sigurdardottir says only EU membership can save Iceland's economyThe governing coalition itself remained divided over the benefits of EU membership for Iceland – a country which is dramatically affected by the economic crisis.
While Sigurdardottir's Social Democrats have always campaigned for joining the bloc, their Left-Green coalition partners are traditionally opposed to the idea. Five members of the Left Green party therefore rejected the proposition, including Jon Bjarnason, the minister of agriculture and fisheries.
Other Left-Green deputies including Finance Minister Steingrimur Sigfusson, however, displayed political pragmatism by voting for the EU membership application along government lines.
"An overwhelming majority wants this EU issue to be dealt with," Sigfusson said.
Pros and cons
One of the main EU pull factors for the large majority of Icelanders is the chance to drop the Icelandic krona as a currency. It shed nearly half its value in the wake of last year's financial crash, while inflation rose to over 12 percent. As a small island state with just 320.000 citizens, Iceland relies heavily on imports.
The strongest opposition to Iceland's EU membership comes from the fishing and agricultural industries. They are opposed to handing over the control over Iceland's lucrative fishing grounds to Brussels.
"We would no longer be the lawmakers on how we run our fishing industry. This is the key element for us. And we just don't see any need for an application when you know what the outcome is going to be," said Sigurdur Sverrisson from the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners (LIU).
If and how Iceland could keep the control over this vital part of the economy while having to join the – currently unsuccessful - common EU fisheries policy will be one of the most important and tricky questions during the accession talks.
Popular support
Eurosceptic protests in Reykjavik were low-key Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Eurosceptic protests in Reykjavik were low-key According to the most recent figures, around 70 percent of Icelanders support the launch of EU accession talks. "I would like to talk and find out what we can get and what we'd have to give," is an often-heard comment on Reykjavik's streets these days.
The nation remains divided over the prospect of full membership in the bloc, however, with many citizens complaining about a lack of information.
Unlike Norway, Iceland has never applied to the EU because the majority of politicians were against it. "What we have seen in the last few months is a shift in political leadership rather than a great shift in the public opinion, although the public opinion for membership of course strengthened due to the economic crisis," concludes Adalsteinn Leifsson from Reykjavik University.
Hope for speedy progress
Iceland's Foreign Minister Össur Skarpedinsson, a leading Social Democrat, has already outlined an ambitious agenda for the accession procedures. Iceland plans to launch its application in time for the next meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers on July 27.
The fact that Iceland is already a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the border-free Schengen zone means accession talks are likely to be relatively short. Around two thirds of all Icelandic legislation is already in line with EU rules.
It is widely viewed as favorable for Iceland that another Nordic country, Sweden, currently holds the EU presidency. "We don't hide the fact that we want our friends to support us," said Skarpedinsson.
The Swedes support a speedy negotiation process with Iceland, and EU officials mentioned 2011 or 2012 as possible accession dates. A referendum will be held, meaning the Icelandic citizens will have the last say in the matter.
Vikings want to plunder continental Europe again
I say it's enough
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