Iceland Cancels EU Membership Bid

Iceland cancels EU membership bid (RT, June 25, 2013):

Iceland’s foreign minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson has announced the country has withdrawn its bid to join the European Union, in part unsatisfied with a deal on fishing rights within its territorial waters.

Three weeks after assuming the post, Sveinsson had indicated that Iceland’s newly elected coalition government was not keen on incorporation into the EU, a process that began in July of 2009 with the country’s official application and formal negotiations the following year.

Iceland’s suspension of the bid began in earnest when its coalition government, which saw the defeat of left-wing parties in favor of the centrist Progressive Party and the Independence Party, indicated that it would call a public referendum on the matter.

Stefan Fule, the Czech commissioner overseeing EU membership bids, has stated that he expects Iceland’s government to notify him whether it plans to reopen membership talks in the future.

Regardless of whether it pursues full membership within the bloc, Iceland is currently a member of the European Free Trade Association, the European Economic Area as well as the Schengen Area agreement on visa policy.

4 thoughts on “Iceland Cancels EU Membership Bid”

  1. This proud nation have few natural assets other than cheap geothermal energy and abundant fish they can export.

    After 2008 they proactively prosecuted their criminal bankers and nationalised their banks.

    Back in the 70’s they proactively defended their fishing borders from invasion and rape by British trawlers. They won.

    They have seen the impotence imposed on their sovereign fatherland, Denmark and all other once proud countries by the unelected EU leadership.

    Iceland had an economic growth of 3% last year compared to everyone else’s 0% or even -%

    It doesn’t take Homer Simpson to realise a STATUS QUO is much better. A no brainer.

    WELL DONE ICELANDERS !!!!!

    Reply
  2. In reply to Squodgy:
    You sum it up beautifully. I think all nations should follow the example of Iceland and tell the bankers to go to hell. Nothing good can come out of what they are doing to the global economy……they are taking us back to the 1600s.

    Reply

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