Johanna Sigurdardottir, Iceland’s Prime Minister and leader of the Icelandic Social Democrats issued the following statement on the decision of the Parliament to start European Union accession negotiations for membership.
“The Parliament has decided that Iceland will apply for membership to the European Union. This is an historic decision for Iceland. Today’s vote was likely one of my most enjoyable due to the importance I attach to this issue for Iceland.
We will now deliver a formal application to the EU Presidency in the coming days and begin the process of preparing for accession negotiations. We will do our utmost to ensure broad participation and access for all political parties and interested parties in Iceland during the course of the negotiation process. We will also disseminate information on the benefits and costs of EU membership to the general public to ensure an informed choice can be made in a national referendum on a prospective Treaty of Accession.
Iceland and the 27 member states of the EU share a common democratic and cultural heritage. Iceland has been an active participant in European cooperation for many decades. As a Nordic welfare state and a member of the European Economic Area and Schengen Cooperation, Iceland is well prepared to discuss the conditions and terms for full membership with EU member states and institutions.”
[…] an opinion on Iceland’s application to join the EU, just 10 days after Reykjavik submitted its formal request for membership. The Swedish presidency wants the report by the end of the year, and foreign […]
[…] Iceland’s Prime Minister’s statement on decision to apply for EU membership […]
[…] an opinion on Iceland’s application to join the EU, just 10 days after Reykjavik submitted its formal request for membership. The Swedish presidency wants the report by the end of the year, and foreign […]
[…] an opinion on Iceland’s application to join the EU, just 10 days after Reykjavik submitted its formal request for membership. The Swedish presidency wants the report by the end of the year, and foreign […]
[…] an opinion on Iceland’s application to join the EU, just 10 days after Reykjavik submitted its formal request for membership. The Swedish presidency wants the report by the end of the year, and foreign […]
>Maybe now you will start to understand how small and unimportant you really are.
We are only that once inside the EU because of qualified majority voting where we get about 0.3% influence.
Once the debate begins in detail support for it will drop even further than 30% in favou regardless of EU deal — because the EU is not going to change its ways.
And those ways are very much not ways that average Icelander has any time for.
>Now Iceland has turned its oppinion. Now the proud Vikings wanna crawling under the wings of Big Bad Europe.
No that is Jóhanna and colleague in Social Democrats and her opportunist friend in Left Greens.
I hate see friend Steingrímur go against his long held principles — but of course he is a crazy –but had hoped a prinpled one.
But no. His party support is now toast as all he gains recently on their way back to the Independence Party.
>Why they have changed their point of views? A few years ago the European Union was not good enough being an institution of common democratic values. And now?
The EU has not changed — and nor have Icelanders.
What did change is that some people weak minded enough to vote for Steingrímur and his party instead of they usual Independence Party in April elections.
Now those are regretting biterly because he has just voted for start member ship negotiation instead of let this useles Red-Green coalition fail.
The only thing they can do worse than this is refuse the referendum on actually joining. Then they will see saucepan revolution as a children tea party in comparison with popular sentiments now — as last election April was NOT about EU.
Can assure you with certainty Icelander are not all EU frieldly Social Democrats. And certainly not any where close to a majority of them are.
This government is on incredibly shakey ground now. But they are too self absorbe in own pet projects and worshipping EU god and thinking of they nice fat expenses as EU parliment and EU commissioners to notice it.
Cheap or not no one in Bulgaria likes EU. The life is much better than in EU. Go and check yourself.
@Alfred
Nobody could have said it better.
[…] Iceland’s Prime Minister’s statement on decision to apply for EU membership […]
Iceland has recorded biggest losses after September’08. Almost bankrupt. And now this decision of joining EU might prove to be costly. May be this decision can be delayed for another year or so until the market rebounds.
@ Alfred.
You’re so cynical against Europe that I should believe you’re a Britain… LOL !!
Hopefully, your cynism is unsignificant against the european way of life.
You’re probably also unsignificant too…
Now Iceland has turned its oppinion. Now the proud Vikings wanna crawling under the wings of Big Bad Europe.
Why they have changed their point of views? A few years ago the European Union was not good enough being an institution of common democratic values. And now?
Well now she is well enough to play the paymaster for the sins of a heighty hedonistic economy that didn’t care for anything. Same as the USA did.
Typical. If you would ask me – I wouldn’t allow Iceland to join the EU. At least not so fast. Let them fidget awhile and maybe they can join in lets say… 10 years from now? After turkey perhaps. By the way: Germany is the biggest paymaster in this European Union. Why aren’t the germans being asked what they think of a new member? With a big debt bringing in? On the other hand the icelanders don’t wanna give in their fishing rights. Quite schizophrenic if you ask me.
My 2 cents.
Chesmond
“This is an historic decision for Iceland. Today’s vote was likely one of my most enjoyable due to the importance Iattach to this issue for Iceland.”
She indeed sees herself as a queen of Iceland…
But she should remember Marie Antoinette ;-)
Calm down or we’ll take you back to Finland!
The once proud people of Iceland got greedy. Then they got burned. Now they will lose much of their sovereignty. The people have become weak and self absorbed. Soon the country will become even more irrelevant than it is now. Why even call it a country anymore? It is just an island off the coast of Europe. Sad silly little Iceland. You take yourself too seriously. Maybe now you will start to understand how small and unimportant you really are.
@SIR EURO
Yes I agree at 220-250=1 euro as at that level Iceland’s prices become just like ireland for rent ,petrol and other things just another expensive EU country ,(Ireland 2nd most expensive in the EU beaten only by Luxembourg)
EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING AS I TOLD SOME MONTHS AGO…, ICELAND WILL APPLY FOR THE EU MEMBERSHIP, BUT NOW WHAT IS LEFT OF MY PREDICTIONS IS THE ICELANDIC KRONA TO GO CLOSER TO ITS REAL VALUE ( 250 ISK / 1 EURO) AND THAT STARTED TO HAPPEN TODAY WHEN 1 EURO IS 181 ISK… IN TWO WEEKS WE WILL SEE THE REAL PRICE THAT WILL BE THERE FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR… UNTIL THEY SEE THAT IT IS EU AND THE EURO OR BECOME ANOTHER FRIEND OF RUSSIA AND LIVE ON AN UNDERDEVELOPED ECONOMY OF FISH AND ALUMINIUM… THEN ICELAND WOULD BE CHEAPER THAN BULGARIA..