2/28/2005

'Nothing new happened', say spokespersons of other Icelandic political parties

There was no turning point in the Icelandic Progressive Party's attitude towards the EU during the party's general meeting this weekend. This is the common opinion of spokespersons of the four other political parties represented in the Icelandic parliament, the Althing, according to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service.

The chairman of the parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs and MP for the Independence Party, Sólveig Pétursdóttir, said the resolution of the meeting will not change anything for the coalition government of the two parties. The pact of the government is that EU membership is not on the agenda.

The opposition parties said it seemed as this whole thing was just a show to draw the attention from other tough issues within the Progressive Party. They said it was obvious that no decision was made on the EU issue. Össur Skarphéðinsson, chairman of the Social Democratic Alliance which is the only party in Iceland which is in favour of EU membership, added that this whole thing was a "successful spin about a possible policy sometime later in the future."

Press article:
Ríkisútvarpið
Stöð 2

EU membership not on the agenda within the Icelandic Progressive Party

The result of the general meeting of the Iceland's ruling Progressive Party, which was held during this weekend, was that neither EU membership nor EU membership negotiations are on the agenda. The debate on the EU issue at the meeting was tough and is was obvious that there is a major opposition to EU membership within the party.

After a workgroup on foreign affairs within the Progressive Party had suggested before the weekend that the party should put membership negotiations with the EU on the agenda those supporting it were in constant retreat and had to withdraw one proposal after another during the meeting because of the opposition from eurosceptic members of the party.

According to the final version, which was at last approved yesterday (February 27), the previous process of gathering information, framing of objectives and possible preparation for membership negotiations with the EU will be continued within the party. The result of this work is to be introduced at the next general meeting in 2007. The final version then states that if there will be membership negotiations with the EU the results of it shall be put to a referendum.

In short this only means that the party is going to continue its previous work of putting together possible objectives for a possible membership negotiations which may possibly occur sometime in the future. So this is actually as vague as possible as one Icelandic journalist put it.

Earlier proposals had among other things included a paragraph saying the party should aim at membership talks with the EU during this term or the next one. They also had a paragraph claiming that in the light of "an indefinite standing" of the EEA agreement and "general evolution" of EU the interests of Iceland were likely to be better off within the Union. Both of these paragraphs were among those rejected at the meeting.

The wording of the final version of the Progressive Party's general meeting this weekend is actually much less determined than the resolution approved by the party's general meeting in 2003. At that time the party was doubtless nearer to EU membership negotiations than now. Also the resolution in 2003 left it open that the framing of Iceland's objectives in case of possible membership negotiations could be performed by official institutions and not only the party. But the verison approved now made it clear that this was only to be done within the party.

According to the news of the Icelandic TV station Stöð 2 yesterday those opposed to EU membership within the Progressive Party managed to undo all attempts of those of the opposite opinion to move the party nearer to membership negotiations with the Union. And the news of the Icelandic radio station Bylgjan said that during the general meeting it was like those in favour of EU membership negotiations "had seven reverse gears like was said about the Italian army during the Second World War." Their retreat was simply complete.

Press articles:
Morgunblaðið
Bylgjan
Stöð 2
Nrk.no

2/25/2005

EU membership talks not on the agenda says Ásgrímsson

The Icelandic newspaper Morgunblaðið has just reported that Halldór Ásgrímsson, chairman of the Progressive Party and Prime Minister of Iceland, said in his overview speech today at the party's general meeting that he thought it was neither timely nor senseble to start membership talks with the EU during this term. He also reminded his party members that accepting such proposal would violate the pact of the coalition government.

However, he also said that members of the party shouldn't shy away from discussing Iceland's relationship with the EU since membership of the Union could come sooner or later.

Press articles:
Morgunblaðið
Nrk.no

2/24/2005

Proposal of EU talks put forward mainly to promote discussions

A workgroup on foreign affairs within the Icelandic Progressive Party has suggested that the party should put membership negotiation with the European Union on the agenda during this term. The Progressive Party holds its general meeting this weekend and members of the party will decide during it whether they support this suggestion or not. However, the chairman of the workgroup, Ármann Höskuldsson, said in an interview today with the Icelandic radio station Bylgjan that these suggestions were mainly put forward to promote discussions during the meeting about matters concerning Iceland and the EU. He also said in a TV interview with Stöð 2 this evening that he did not expect the suggestions to be approved as the workgroup has recommended.

But in any case the Progressive Party as such has not decided to put negotiations with the EU on the agenda or any such thing. So far it has merely been suggested by the workgroup on foreign affairs. The members of this workgroup were neither elected nor hand picked for the job. On the contrary any member of the Progressive Party could join it according to Siv Friðleifsdóttir, MP for the party, in an interview with Bylgjan today. One of its members was the chairman of the European Movement in Iceland who is a member of the party.

It was made clear today that the leadership of the Progressive Party had as such nothing to do with these suggestions according to the online version of the Icelandic newspaper Morgunblaðið. Also the vice chairman of the party and Minister of Agriculture, Guðni Ágústsson, has declared his absolute opposition to them. He also said today that there are simply no reasons for Iceland to consider joining the EU. The chairman of the party, Halldór Ásgrímsson Prime Minister, has refused to comment on the issue saying he will discuss it during the meeting.

Jón Kristjánsson, the Icelandic Minister of Health and MP for the Progressive Party, said in an interview with the National Broadcasting Service this afternoon that if these suggestions would be approved during the general meeting it would be a clear violation of the pact between the two parties forming the present coalition government in Iceland, the Progressive Party itself and the Independence Party, which states that EU membership is not on the agenda. He also said that all there was on the agenda was to fulfill the pact throughout this term.

And Árni Magnússon, the Icelandic Minister of Social Affairs and MP for the Progressive Party, said this evening in a TV interview with Stöð 2 that he was opposed to membership talks with the EU. That means three out of five ministers of the party have today openly expressed their opposition to the suggestions. It is also clear that there is a tough resistance to any such suggestions among common members of the party.

But even if these suggestions would be approved by the members of the Progressive Party during the meeting this weekend, which is far from being certain, it is hard to imagine them to come true considering many reason and not the least the fact that the Independence Party is utterly against EU membership.

Besides, how could the Progressive Party put membership talks with the EU on the agenda in the government if at least three out of its five ministers are opposed to the idea?

Press articles:
Bylgjan
Stöð 2
Morgunblaðið
Morgunblaðið