Halldór Ásgrímsson, the Icelandic Foreign Minister, does not share Thorbjörn Jaglands idea that Norway and Iceland should prepare a common strategy before launching membership negotiations with the European Union. Mr. Ásgrímsson said furthermore that he believed Norway should take an independent decision whether they want to apply for membership of the EU or not.Iceland has never applyed for membership of the EU and the current government is opposed to the idea of joining the Union.