[BRIEF NOTE] Iceland and the EU
Nov. 19th, 2008 10:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rfmcdonaldThe relationship between Iceland and the European Union looks set to become much closer if the Icelanders have any say in matters. Not only does the mass of Icelandic public opinion seem to favour dropping the Icelandic króna for the euro--even unilaterallly--but some people in the country are quite interested in EU membership.
As this article in The Irish Times points out this is not a sign that Iceland is preparing to enter the EU post-haste--it's only the issue of Iceland's membership that's being examined. Still, it's worth noting that the Dominion of Newfoundland, Iceland's North Atlantic twin, joined Canada after a major global financial crisis undermined its economy and pushed it into the embrace of the much larger allied federation on its mainland.
The continent-sized federations will get the small states somehow, I suppose.
Iceland's prime minister has announced the set-up of a commission to investigate joining the European Union.
An initial plan has already been drafted by the country's foreign ministry that would see a membership application made in early 2009, aiming for entry some time in 2011, according to a report in the Financial Times which appeared at the weekend.
The prime minister, Geir Haarde, also said that his centre-right Independence Party would hold its 2009 conference in January instead of October as scheduled, to consider EU membership.
In announcing the move on Friday (14 November), Mr Haarde said "We have always said that we will assess at any given time how we co-operate with Europe."
"This process will help us make our future decisions."
Until now, Iceland has never applied for EU membership, and the population has historically been strongly opposed to the idea.
After the bottom falling out of the Icelandic banking sector and a run on the currency in recent weeks, many are now convinced of the need to adopt the euro, but EU officials have repeatedly told the north Atlantic nation that the euro cannot be adopted without joining the union first.
The crisis has sharply boosted support for EU membership in Iceland, climbing to a current 70 percent up from around 50 percent ahead of the crisis.
On Saturday, some 6,000 people - two percent of the population - protested outside the Icelandic parliament, attacking the government for its handling of the crisis. According to local reports, several people carried EU flags.
As this article in The Irish Times points out this is not a sign that Iceland is preparing to enter the EU post-haste--it's only the issue of Iceland's membership that's being examined. Still, it's worth noting that the Dominion of Newfoundland, Iceland's North Atlantic twin, joined Canada after a major global financial crisis undermined its economy and pushed it into the embrace of the much larger allied federation on its mainland.
The continent-sized federations will get the small states somehow, I suppose.
