Bjarni Benediktsson, the chairman of the conservative Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn), said at a meeting today with fellow partymembers that the current left-wing government had proven unable to advance its application for membership of the European Union. He said the government was stuck in a vicious circle when it came to the EU issue which it couldn't get out of.
Benediktsson, who's party leads the opposition, criticised the government for spending enourmous time, manpower and money on the application for EU membership despite the fact that the issue has no political leadership and doesn't have the support of the Icelandic people. Furthermore, he said there was no majority for membership in the Icelandic parliament and not even within the government itself.
Source:
Bjarni vill að landsfundi verði flýtt (Vísir.is April 17, 2010)
Further reading:
Does Iceland want to join the EU?
How serious is Iceland about joining the EU?
4/12/2010
The Social Democratic Alliance split in three on the EU issue
Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson have both dismissed the comments from Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, former FM and chairman of the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin), that it would perhaps be better to postpone Iceland's EU application in the light of the Icelandic people's massive opposition to membership. Sigurðardóttir, the current chairman of the social democrats, said she was not as pessimistic as her predecessor.
What the comments by Gísladóttir, however, reveal is that the Social Democratic Alliance, Iceland's only pro-EU party, is totally split on the EU issue (former FM Gísladóttir represents a certain wing within the party), but now not only between those who want to join and those who don't want to (between 20-30 percent of the voters of the party usually reject membership according to the polls). Now the supporthers of EU membership within the party are also split in two, those who want to proceed with the present application and those who think it would be better to postpone the whole issue.
Source:
Fráleitt að fresta viðræðum við ESB (Vísir.is April 10, 2010)
What the comments by Gísladóttir, however, reveal is that the Social Democratic Alliance, Iceland's only pro-EU party, is totally split on the EU issue (former FM Gísladóttir represents a certain wing within the party), but now not only between those who want to join and those who don't want to (between 20-30 percent of the voters of the party usually reject membership according to the polls). Now the supporthers of EU membership within the party are also split in two, those who want to proceed with the present application and those who think it would be better to postpone the whole issue.
Source:
Fráleitt að fresta viðræðum við ESB (Vísir.is April 10, 2010)
4/09/2010
Former FM: No one is fighting for EU membership in Iceland
Former Foreign Minister of Iceland, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, said to the German journalist Clemens Bomdorf yesterday (April 8) that no one was really fighting for membership of the European Union in Iceland any longer. Membership would probably be rejected in a referendum and it was therefore even better to postpone the EU application rather than to continue the process in total uncertainty.
Gísladóttir is one of the most outspoken supporters of EU membership in Iceland and former chairman of the Social Democratic Alliance, the only political party in Iceland that favours membership. With these comments she joins a growing number of EU supporters in Iceland that have openly aired their worries about the EU application and predicted that it will be rejected by the Icelandic people.
Sources:
Betra að fresta ESB-viðræðum en halda þeim áfram í óvissu (Mbl.is April 9, 2010)
Stolz und Vorurteil (Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir 3) (Highnorth.wordpress.com April 8, 2010)
Gísladóttir is one of the most outspoken supporters of EU membership in Iceland and former chairman of the Social Democratic Alliance, the only political party in Iceland that favours membership. With these comments she joins a growing number of EU supporters in Iceland that have openly aired their worries about the EU application and predicted that it will be rejected by the Icelandic people.
Sources:
Betra að fresta ESB-viðræðum en halda þeim áfram í óvissu (Mbl.is April 9, 2010)
Stolz und Vorurteil (Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir 3) (Highnorth.wordpress.com April 8, 2010)
3/23/2010
70 percent of Icelanders would reject EU membership
The newest opinion poll in Iceland on membership of the European Union published earlier this month suggests that about 70 percent of Icelanders would vote no if a referendum was held now, up more than 8 percent since September 2009. Of those 51 percent were absolutely certain they would reject membership. At the same time only about 30 percent said they would vote yes.
The same poll also asked if people were in favour of EU membership with 60 percent saying they were not and only 24.4 percent saying they were. If those undecided are excluded the outcome is pretty much the same as in the referendum question mentioned above.
The vast majority in all social groups are opposed to EU membership whether with regard to sex, age, education, income, residense, or political affiliation with only one exception, the majority of the voters of the social democrats favour membership.
Source:
The results of the Capacent poll
The same poll also asked if people were in favour of EU membership with 60 percent saying they were not and only 24.4 percent saying they were. If those undecided are excluded the outcome is pretty much the same as in the referendum question mentioned above.
The vast majority in all social groups are opposed to EU membership whether with regard to sex, age, education, income, residense, or political affiliation with only one exception, the majority of the voters of the social democrats favour membership.
Source:
The results of the Capacent poll
3/08/2010
Does Iceland want to join the EU?
There were no celebrations in the streets of Reykjavík or elsewhere in Iceland when the European Commission announced on 24 February that it would recommend membership negotiations with the country. This really shouldn't come as a surprise in the light of the fact that Icelanders don't want to join the EU and probably never have.
According to the most recent public opinion poll in Iceland by Capacent, 56 percent are opposed to EU membership, up six percent since last September, while just 33 percent are in favour. Furthermore, the September poll showed a majority displeased with the government's EU application delivered last summer.
Read the full article
According to the most recent public opinion poll in Iceland by Capacent, 56 percent are opposed to EU membership, up six percent since last September, while just 33 percent are in favour. Furthermore, the September poll showed a majority displeased with the government's EU application delivered last summer.
Read the full article
2/28/2010
New poll on EU membership in Iceland
New poll in Iceland on the attitude of the Icelandic people towards EU membership produced by Capacent for the Farmers Association of Iceland and published today (February 28). The results are as follows:
33.2 percent in favour of EU membership (thereof 9.4 percent totally in favour, 7.2 percent very much in favour and 16.6 percent rather in favour).
56 percent opposed to EU membership (thereof 28.4 percent totally opposed, 11.3 percent very much opposed and 16.3 percent rather opposed).
26.8 percent trust the Icelandic government to defend the interests of the Icelandic people in Iceland's accession process to the EU.
58 percent do not trust the Icelandic government to defend the interests of the Icelandic people in Iceland's accession process to the EU.
A total of 1.173 people were polled with 68.7 percent participating.
This is in line with previous polls.
Sources:
Aðeins þriðjungur hlynntur ESB-aðild (Vísir.is February 28, 2010)
Meirihlutinn á móti ESB-aðild (Mbl.is February 28, 2010)
33.2 percent in favour of EU membership (thereof 9.4 percent totally in favour, 7.2 percent very much in favour and 16.6 percent rather in favour).
56 percent opposed to EU membership (thereof 28.4 percent totally opposed, 11.3 percent very much opposed and 16.3 percent rather opposed).
26.8 percent trust the Icelandic government to defend the interests of the Icelandic people in Iceland's accession process to the EU.
58 percent do not trust the Icelandic government to defend the interests of the Icelandic people in Iceland's accession process to the EU.
A total of 1.173 people were polled with 68.7 percent participating.
This is in line with previous polls.
Sources:
Aðeins þriðjungur hlynntur ESB-aðild (Vísir.is February 28, 2010)
Meirihlutinn á móti ESB-aðild (Mbl.is February 28, 2010)
2/15/2010
Icelandic companies say no to the EU
New poll which was released in Iceland today shows that about 60 percent of the leading people of Icelandic companies believe that Iceland is better placed economically outside the EU. Only 31 percent think the country would be better placed within it. This is in line with the last polls on the attitude of Icelanders in general towards EU membership.
Certain people in the Icelandic business community have been among the most powerful lobbyists for EU membership in recent years. A year ago a similar poll showed a totally different attitude towards the EU by the majority of the leading people of Icelandic companies. So this is seen a big news and yet another shock for the Icelandic pro-EU side.
Certain people in the Icelandic business community have been among the most powerful lobbyists for EU membership in recent years. A year ago a similar poll showed a totally different attitude towards the EU by the majority of the leading people of Icelandic companies. So this is seen a big news and yet another shock for the Icelandic pro-EU side.
1/17/2010
Ruling Left-Greens confirm EU opposition
The party council of the Icelandic political party The Left Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin - grænt framboð) yesterday (January 16) confirmed the party's opposition to Iceland joining the European Union.
The Left Greens have since the foundation of the party been opposed to joining the EU but decided not to oppose an application being sent to Brussels after the general election in the spring of 2009 in order to form a government with the pro-EU Social Democratic Alliance. Since opposition to the joining the EU has grown rapidly among Icelanders with about two thirds against the move according to the latest polls. The EU application, which was only narrowly approved in the Icelandic parliament in July 2009, has also been very unpopular within the LGM. The party council is the highest authority of the LGM between national congresses.
The party council's statement reads:
"The party council confirms the opposition of the Left Green Movement to possible membership of Iceland of the European Union. Despite an application for membership has been delivered it is the outmost will of the party council that Iceland shall remain an independent state outside the EU. The party council of the Left Green Movement urges ministers, MPs and members of the Left Greens across the country to honour the party's policy to oppose membership of the EU and to fight hard for it."
This is seen as yet another token of the split between the government parties on the EU issue.
Source:
The LGM party council's statement
See also:
Fisheries Minister: Iceland better off outside the EU
New chairman of the Icelandic No movement
Would have voted against an EU application in opposition
How serious is Iceland about joining the EU?
Former FM says EU membership will probably be rejected
Finance Minister: Icelanders don't want to join the EU
The Left Greens have since the foundation of the party been opposed to joining the EU but decided not to oppose an application being sent to Brussels after the general election in the spring of 2009 in order to form a government with the pro-EU Social Democratic Alliance. Since opposition to the joining the EU has grown rapidly among Icelanders with about two thirds against the move according to the latest polls. The EU application, which was only narrowly approved in the Icelandic parliament in July 2009, has also been very unpopular within the LGM. The party council is the highest authority of the LGM between national congresses.
The party council's statement reads:
"The party council confirms the opposition of the Left Green Movement to possible membership of Iceland of the European Union. Despite an application for membership has been delivered it is the outmost will of the party council that Iceland shall remain an independent state outside the EU. The party council of the Left Green Movement urges ministers, MPs and members of the Left Greens across the country to honour the party's policy to oppose membership of the EU and to fight hard for it."
This is seen as yet another token of the split between the government parties on the EU issue.
Source:
The LGM party council's statement
See also:
Fisheries Minister: Iceland better off outside the EU
New chairman of the Icelandic No movement
Would have voted against an EU application in opposition
How serious is Iceland about joining the EU?
Former FM says EU membership will probably be rejected
Finance Minister: Icelanders don't want to join the EU
11/26/2009
Fisheries Minister: Iceland better off outside the EU
Iceland's Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Jón Bjarnason, yesterday gave a speech to an international conference on coastal fisheries in Biarritz in France. At the end of his speech Bjarnason, who voted against his government's application for membership if the European Union this summer, discussed from his point of view the situation of that application and how it came about:
"Last summer the Icelandic Parliament, Althingi, decided, to apply for EU membership. The process has already begun, although nobody knows how much time is needed for the negotiations. The political background is somewhat peculiar. The two parties in government have opposing opinions. While one is for membership, the other my party the Left-greens is rather strongly against it but has agreed to let a national referendum have the final say.
Recent opinion polls in Iceland show a huge majority against membership. Keeping in mind that all the agricultural sector, the farmers and the food industry are against membership, and the same goes for the whole of the fishing industry as my own party the left-greens, it should not surprise anyone that I am not in favor of membership myself.
Iceland is a small island situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with just over 300 thousand inhabitants. The foundation of our livelyhood lies in our natural resources; we must maintain sovereignty over our most valued assets, our economy, our culture and our future generations are depending on it. We can enjoy wide-ranging international cooperation without being tied up in the EU framework.
Given these circumstances, it is my firm belief that the future of our country is will be much better off outside European Union than inside."
Source:
Jón Bjarnason's speech
See also:
How serious is Iceland about joining the EU?
Report: Icelandic government to apply for EU membership
"Last summer the Icelandic Parliament, Althingi, decided, to apply for EU membership. The process has already begun, although nobody knows how much time is needed for the negotiations. The political background is somewhat peculiar. The two parties in government have opposing opinions. While one is for membership, the other my party the Left-greens is rather strongly against it but has agreed to let a national referendum have the final say.
Recent opinion polls in Iceland show a huge majority against membership. Keeping in mind that all the agricultural sector, the farmers and the food industry are against membership, and the same goes for the whole of the fishing industry as my own party the left-greens, it should not surprise anyone that I am not in favor of membership myself.
Iceland is a small island situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with just over 300 thousand inhabitants. The foundation of our livelyhood lies in our natural resources; we must maintain sovereignty over our most valued assets, our economy, our culture and our future generations are depending on it. We can enjoy wide-ranging international cooperation without being tied up in the EU framework.
Given these circumstances, it is my firm belief that the future of our country is will be much better off outside European Union than inside."
Source:
Jón Bjarnason's speech
See also:
How serious is Iceland about joining the EU?
Report: Icelandic government to apply for EU membership
11/15/2009
New chairman of the Icelandic No movement
Heimssýn, the Icelandic broad-political organisation opposed to membership of the European Union, held its national congress today (November 15) and elected a new board. The new chairman is Ásmundur Einar Daðason, MP for the Left Green Movement.
Ragnar Arnalds, former Finance Minister, stepped down as chairman after holding the post for the past seven years or since Heimssýn was founded in June 2002. Arnalds will nevertheless continue to stay on the board as a regular board member.
The Left Greens are in government with their senior coalition partner the Social Democratic Alliance. When the government applied for EU membership in July this summer Daðason was among four other Left Green MPs who voted against the application.
Source:
Ásmundur Einar nýr formaður Heimssýnar (Mbl.is November 15, 2009)
See also:
How serious is Iceland about joining the EU?
Report: Icelandic government to apply for EU membership
Ragnar Arnalds, former Finance Minister, stepped down as chairman after holding the post for the past seven years or since Heimssýn was founded in June 2002. Arnalds will nevertheless continue to stay on the board as a regular board member.
The Left Greens are in government with their senior coalition partner the Social Democratic Alliance. When the government applied for EU membership in July this summer Daðason was among four other Left Green MPs who voted against the application.
Source:
Ásmundur Einar nýr formaður Heimssýnar (Mbl.is November 15, 2009)
See also:
How serious is Iceland about joining the EU?
Report: Icelandic government to apply for EU membership
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