10/31/2008

No split in the Icelandic Independence Party or change in policy towards the EU

Some foreign media including the Financial Times have been suggesting that there is now a split in the conservative Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) towards EU membership since its vice chairman and Minister of Education, Þorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, has said membership needed to be debated rather within weeks than months.

The fact is, however, that this is nothing new. Gunnarsdottir has aired these views before, like last spring, but did not get a very warm hug from the people in the party for doing that. After all the policy of the Independence Party is very clear in its opposition to EU membership. Gunnarsdottir is as a result as good as isolated in the party leadership with her views.

There are simply no signs of a split in the Independence Party over the EU or that its policy on the issue will be changed. The party is on the contrary as before firm in its opposition to EU membership.

10/28/2008

Iceland Trade Minister has been pro-EU for many years

Some foreign media, including Bloomberg and AP, have recently reported that the Icelandic government may be changing its position towards membership of the European Union (EU) and then quoted either the Icelandic Minister of Trade, Bjorgvin G. Sigurdsson, or the Foreign Minister, Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir. The fact is, however, that both of them have favoured EU membership for many years and both of them represent the Socialdemocratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) which is as before the only political party in Iceland in favour of starting membership negotiations with the EU.

The social democrats are the junior coalition partner of the conservative Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) in the Icelandic government. Prime Minister Geir Haarde earlier this week underlined that the policy of his government has not changed and is as before that EU membership is not on the agenda. The task ahead is to restore the Icelandic economy he said and the right time for a debate whether or not Iceland should apply for EU membership is not during the reconstruction.

Iceland PM: EU membership as before not on the agenda

At a press meeting on Tuesday October 27 in the Finnish capital of Helsinki Iceland's Prime Minister, Geir Haarde, underlined his government's policy that membership of the European Union is not on the agenda. The task ahead is to restore the Icelandic economy he said and the right time for a debate whether or not Iceland should apply for EU membership is not during the reconstruction.

No pro-EU protests in Iceland

Some foreign media have reported that a protest meeting, that took place in Reykjavik on last Saturday (October 25), had among other things called for Iceland to immediately begin membership negotiations with the European Union. No Icelandic media, however, reported that the protesters called for EU membership and the press release, which the leaders of the protests sent to the media prior to them, did not mention such a demand one word. According to the media and the press release the aim was to protest the economic situation. Also the protesters claimed that the government was not giving enough information to the public about what was going on. In other words the purpose of these protests were not to call for EU membership.

Iceland's Fisheries Minister still firm on his opposition to EU membership

Some foreign media, including the Euobserver.com and the Irish Times, claimed few days ago that the Icelandic Fisheries Minister, Einar K. Gudfinnsson, had changed his position towards membership of the European Union (EU) from being a firm opponent to saying it was one of the options that had to be looked into. This was claimed to be based on the reportings of Iceland's state radio (RUV).

The truth, however, is that Gudfinnsson never said he was open for EU membership. What he said was simply taken out of context in the foreign media. According to the website of RUV Gudfinnsson said all options regarding getting foreign loans had to be considered. In the news story it is then stressed that Gudfinnsson is as before firmly opposed to EU membership.

The title of RUV's news story is in fact "Ministers disagree on the EU" referring to the fact that Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Sólrun Gisladottir has for many years been in favour of EU membership while Gudfinnsson opposes it.

Gisladottir is chairman of the junior coalition parter in the Icelandic government. Her party, the Socialdemocratic Alliance (Samfylkingin), is the only political party in Iceland which favours EU membership negotiations. However, the senior coalition partner, the conservative Independence Party (Gudfinnsson's party), is opposed to EU membership.

The position of the Icelandic government has not changed since the banking crisis in Iceland started in the beginning of October. Its policy is as before that EU membership is not on the agenda.