Most Icelanders have opposed joining the European Union for more than three years now according to every single opinion poll which has been published in the country regardless of who has produced it or for whom.
The newest opinion poll was published today by Capacent Gallup and according to it 57.6 percent of Icelanders are against EU membership while 27.3 percent support it. The rest is undecided. If only those in favour or opposed are measured about 68 percent ara against joining the EU and 32% in favour of the step.
Compared to the poll produced before the current poll the opposition has increased by 3.8 percent, from 53.8 percent to 57.6 percent as it is now. The support has on the other hand remained about the same. According to the poll those against EU membership are much more firm in their opinion with most supporters of joining the EU only saying the are rather much in favour.
The poll also found that large majority of the voters of all the major political parties in Iceland are opposed to EU membership except for the Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) which heads the current coalition government in Iceland and is the only political party in favour of joining the bloc. Which in turn is the sole reason why the EU application his being maintained.
The newest opinion poll in Iceland on Icelanders attitude towards the euro from earlier this year also show most Icelanders opposed to adopting it instead of the Icelandic króna and the newest poll on the nations view of the EU application shows majority in favour of withdrawing it.
Source:
Mikill meirihluti andvígur aðild að ESB (Mbl.is October 15, 2012)
8/13/2012
Social democrats worried about the EU application
The Left Green Movement must stick to the government pact which includes continued support for Iceland's application to join the European Union. If they do not that will mean the end of the current center-left government in Iceland led by the Social Democratic Alliance. This is the reaction by the leaders of Iceland's social democrats to claims from leading people within the Left Green Movement over the weekend that the application should be reconsidered.
The media in Iceland, including the state broadcaster RUV and the prominent newspaper Morgunblaðið, claim the majority of the Left Green MPs and government ministers are in favour of reconsidering the EU application. According to their platform the Left Greens are opposed to EU membership but the party allowed the application after the 2009 general elections in order to be able to form a government with the Social Democratic Alliance which is the only political party in Iceland that favours joining the EU.
The Left Greens have lost about half the votes they got in 2009 according to repeated opinion polls and fear facing the voters before the general elections scheduled next spring if they do not turn against the EU application. There are also growing calls among the social democrats that perhaps it would be wise to put the EU application on ice or even scrap it all together due to the unpopularity of the matter among the Icelandic electorate but at least 2/3 of them would reject joining the EU in a referendum according to opinion polls.
The media in Iceland, including the state broadcaster RUV and the prominent newspaper Morgunblaðið, claim the majority of the Left Green MPs and government ministers are in favour of reconsidering the EU application. According to their platform the Left Greens are opposed to EU membership but the party allowed the application after the 2009 general elections in order to be able to form a government with the Social Democratic Alliance which is the only political party in Iceland that favours joining the EU.
The Left Greens have lost about half the votes they got in 2009 according to repeated opinion polls and fear facing the voters before the general elections scheduled next spring if they do not turn against the EU application. There are also growing calls among the social democrats that perhaps it would be wise to put the EU application on ice or even scrap it all together due to the unpopularity of the matter among the Icelandic electorate but at least 2/3 of them would reject joining the EU in a referendum according to opinion polls.
8/12/2012
Want the EU application reconsidered
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| Katrín Jakobsdóttir |
RUV talked to both Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Minister of Education, Science and Culture and vice-chairman of the Left Green Movement, and Svandís Svavarsdóttir, Minister for the Environment, who both claimed the EU application should be reconsidered. The state broadcaster also said it also got similar reactions from most of the MPs of the party.
According to RUV's news story the Left Greens are worried that their party will suffer greatly if they carry on allowing the EU accession process as they have done since 2009 when the application was delivered. They also claim that many things have changed since three years ago citing the eurozone economic problems and uncertainty where the EU is heading.
The policy of the Left Greens is opposition to EU membership but they allowed the application after the 2009 general elections in order to form a government with the Social Democratic Alliance, the only political party in Iceland favouring membership.
According to opinion polls in Iceland more than 2/3 would reject EU membership in a referendum but for the country to join the bloc it would first have to be accepted by a popular vote. Furthermore the Left Greens have lost half the votes they got in 2009 accoring to opinion polls.
RUV's news story (in Icelandic)
7/02/2012
Iceland's eurosceptic president re-elected
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| Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson |
One of the biggest issues debated in the election campaign was whether Iceland should join the European Union or not. Grímsson confirmed early in the campaign his previously known stance that he was absolutely opposed to EU membership while Arnórsdóttir refused to make her opinion on the matter public. She nevertheless said that joining the EU under the current circumstances was like renting a room in a burning building.
Political analysts in Iceland have generally agreed that Grímsson's opposition to EU membership did much to secure his victory while at the same time claims that Arnórsdóttir favoured joining the bloc did not help her campaign. It was e.g. pointed out that she had been active in the European Movement Iceland in the 90s.
Grímsson has said after the elections that he regards the results as a call for him to take a more active and outspoken role in the debate in Iceland about larger issues such as whether Iceland should join the EU or not.
5/09/2012
Iceland's business leaders reject EU membership
New opinion poll among Icelandic business leaders shows that 63.9 percent of them are opposed to the idea that Iceland should become a member of the European Union while 36.1 percent favour membership.
The poll was produced by the polling company MMR for the Icelandic business newspaper Viðskiptablaðið.
Sources:
Könnun: 64% stjórnenda fyrirtækja á móti aðild að ESB (Vb.is May 9, 2012)
Mikill meirihluti stjórnenda á móti ESB (Mbl.is May 9, 2012)
Related posts:
Majority of Icelanders remains opposed to EU membership
Iceland's industry turns against EU membership
67 percent would reject EU membership
The poll was produced by the polling company MMR for the Icelandic business newspaper Viðskiptablaðið.
Sources:
Könnun: 64% stjórnenda fyrirtækja á móti aðild að ESB (Vb.is May 9, 2012)
Mikill meirihluti stjórnenda á móti ESB (Mbl.is May 9, 2012)
Related posts:
Majority of Icelanders remains opposed to EU membership
Iceland's industry turns against EU membership
67 percent would reject EU membership
4/29/2012
Majority of Icelanders remains opposed to EU membership
The results of a new poll in Iceland shows that an overwhelming majority of Icelanders remains opposed to membership of the European Union. According to the poll 53.8 percent opposed to the idea of joining the EU while only 27.5 percent favour it. 19.7 percent have not made up their minds.
If only those in favour of EU membership of those who oppose it are measured 66 percent are against joining the bloc while a third is in favour. The majority of the voters of all the political parties which got MPs elected to the Icelandic parliament in the last general elections reject membership except for only the social democrats.
The poll was produced by Professor Rúnar Vilhjálmsson of the University of Iceland. Some 1900 people were polled with a 67 percent participating. Vilhjálmsson said in an interview with Iceland's state broadcaster RÚV that according to his findings those opposed to EU membership are more firm in their opinion and less likely to change their minds than those in favour.
Sources:
Mikill meirihluti vill ekki í ESB (Mbl.is April 27, 2012)
54 prósent andvíg ESB-aðild (Rúv.is April 27, 2012)
Related posts:
67 percent would reject EU membership
If only those in favour of EU membership of those who oppose it are measured 66 percent are against joining the bloc while a third is in favour. The majority of the voters of all the political parties which got MPs elected to the Icelandic parliament in the last general elections reject membership except for only the social democrats.
The poll was produced by Professor Rúnar Vilhjálmsson of the University of Iceland. Some 1900 people were polled with a 67 percent participating. Vilhjálmsson said in an interview with Iceland's state broadcaster RÚV that according to his findings those opposed to EU membership are more firm in their opinion and less likely to change their minds than those in favour.
Sources:
Mikill meirihluti vill ekki í ESB (Mbl.is April 27, 2012)
54 prósent andvíg ESB-aðild (Rúv.is April 27, 2012)
Related posts:
67 percent would reject EU membership
3/30/2012
Iceland's industry turns against EU membership
New opinion poll was published yesterday produced for The Federation of Icelandic Industries (Samtök iðnaðarins) by Capacent Gallup among the members of the federation. That is among the leaders of the businesses which are members of the federation.
The Federation of Icelandic Industries has for a long time been a strong supporter of an Icelandic membership of the European Union and it has been the stronghold of those in favour of membership in Iceland's business community.
However, according to the poll 58.7 percent of the members of the federation are now opposed to EU membership and only 27.4 percent in favour. Last time similar poll was produced in February-March 2007 43.4 percent wanted membership against 39.3 percent which rejected it. The change is therefore enormous.
Asked how they would vote in a referendum on EU membership 68.8 percent said they would reject membership. Of those 53.1 percent said they would definitely say no. The rest said they would probably do so. 31.2 percent said they would support membership but only 15.1 percent of those said they would definitely say no.
The poll now also finds that 45 percent oppose the euro while the 36.5 percent favour adopting it in one way or another. In February-March 2006, last time the members of the federation were asked this question, 61.1 percent wanted to adopt the euro while 26.1 percent did not.
Finally the poll found that 50 percent thought it would be bad for Iceland's economy to join the EU while 33.7 percent thought it would have good influence. In February-March 2007 54.7 percent thought EU membership would be good for the country's economy.
Sources:
Iðnaðurinn á móti aðild að ESB (Mbl.is March 29, 2012)
The results of the poll (in Icelandic)
Related posts:
Joining the EU in "total turmoil"
67 percent would reject EU membership
64 percent want the EU application withdrawn
The Federation of Icelandic Industries has for a long time been a strong supporter of an Icelandic membership of the European Union and it has been the stronghold of those in favour of membership in Iceland's business community.
However, according to the poll 58.7 percent of the members of the federation are now opposed to EU membership and only 27.4 percent in favour. Last time similar poll was produced in February-March 2007 43.4 percent wanted membership against 39.3 percent which rejected it. The change is therefore enormous.
Asked how they would vote in a referendum on EU membership 68.8 percent said they would reject membership. Of those 53.1 percent said they would definitely say no. The rest said they would probably do so. 31.2 percent said they would support membership but only 15.1 percent of those said they would definitely say no.
The poll now also finds that 45 percent oppose the euro while the 36.5 percent favour adopting it in one way or another. In February-March 2006, last time the members of the federation were asked this question, 61.1 percent wanted to adopt the euro while 26.1 percent did not.
Finally the poll found that 50 percent thought it would be bad for Iceland's economy to join the EU while 33.7 percent thought it would have good influence. In February-March 2007 54.7 percent thought EU membership would be good for the country's economy.
Sources:
Iðnaðurinn á móti aðild að ESB (Mbl.is March 29, 2012)
The results of the poll (in Icelandic)
Related posts:
Joining the EU in "total turmoil"
67 percent would reject EU membership
64 percent want the EU application withdrawn
3/27/2012
Joining the EU in "total turmoil"
"Joining the European Union is in a total turmoil - simply because the support for it keeps decreasing. Europe is in an economic and political crisis and is not getting out of it anytime soon. It is now clear that the negotiations with the EU will not be finished before the next general elections and then we may have a government which is entirely against EU membership. It would be strange to have a membership agreement in the hands but no government to recommend it."
This was written on March 21 this year by Egill Helgason, a prominent talk show host at the Icelandic state broadcaster which has been known for talking positively about an Icelandic EU membership.
Yesterday the Icelandic Foreign Minister, Össur Skarphéðinssin, said at a meeting with the Icelandic Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs that he thought that the membership negotiations with the EU would not be finished before the next general elections which will be at the latest in the spring of 2013.
This was written on March 21 this year by Egill Helgason, a prominent talk show host at the Icelandic state broadcaster which has been known for talking positively about an Icelandic EU membership.
Yesterday the Icelandic Foreign Minister, Össur Skarphéðinssin, said at a meeting with the Icelandic Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs that he thought that the membership negotiations with the EU would not be finished before the next general elections which will be at the latest in the spring of 2013.
2/29/2012
67 percent would reject EU membership
Opposition to membership of the European Union is growing in Iceland according to a new poll produced by Capacent Gallup for the Federation of Icelandic Industries (Samtök iðnaðarins) which favours joining the bloc. According to the poll 56.2 percent are against EU membership, 26.3 percent are in favour and 17.5 percent are uncertain.
Asked how people would vote in a referendum 67.4 percent said they would vote no to EU membership while 32.6 percent said they would vote yes. Of those rejecting joining the bloc 50 percent said they would definitely say no while only 12.4 percent said they would definitely accept membership.
In a similar poll by Capacent Gallup for the FII published in March 2011 61.1 percent said they would vote against EU membership in a referendum while 38.9 percent said they would support joining the EU.
Majority is opposed to EU membership in all social groups tested according to the poll now; sex, age, residence, income and education. There has been a large majority against joining the bloc in every poll produced in Iceland ever since the beginning of August 2009 or for more than two and a half year.
Asked if they wanted the EU application withdrawn 43.6 percent want to withdraw it but 42.6 percent oppose that.
In a separate poll produced by the polling company MMR and published on January 19 the majority, or 52 percent, also said they did not want to adopt the euro in Iceland while 28 percent said they did.
The poll was produced January 12-20 and published on February 22. A total of 1350 people were polled with 64.2 percent participating.
Sources:
67% myndu hafna ESB-aðild (Mbl.is February 28, 2012)
The complete results of the poll
The MMR poll on the euro
Asked how people would vote in a referendum 67.4 percent said they would vote no to EU membership while 32.6 percent said they would vote yes. Of those rejecting joining the bloc 50 percent said they would definitely say no while only 12.4 percent said they would definitely accept membership.
In a similar poll by Capacent Gallup for the FII published in March 2011 61.1 percent said they would vote against EU membership in a referendum while 38.9 percent said they would support joining the EU.
Majority is opposed to EU membership in all social groups tested according to the poll now; sex, age, residence, income and education. There has been a large majority against joining the bloc in every poll produced in Iceland ever since the beginning of August 2009 or for more than two and a half year.
Asked if they wanted the EU application withdrawn 43.6 percent want to withdraw it but 42.6 percent oppose that.
In a separate poll produced by the polling company MMR and published on January 19 the majority, or 52 percent, also said they did not want to adopt the euro in Iceland while 28 percent said they did.
The poll was produced January 12-20 and published on February 22. A total of 1350 people were polled with 64.2 percent participating.
Sources:
67% myndu hafna ESB-aðild (Mbl.is February 28, 2012)
The complete results of the poll
The MMR poll on the euro
9/10/2011
MEPs surprised by lack of support for EU membership
A delegation of MEPs from the European Parliament visited Iceland on September 7-9 meeting with government ministers, leading people from labour unions and employers and from organisations for and against membership of the European Union. After meeting with the MEPs the leader of the Icelandic no movement, Ásmundur Einar Daðason who also is a member of the Icelandic Parliament, wrote on his Facebook page yesterday:
"Just came from a meeting with members of the European Parliament who are staying in the country. They wanted to meet leading people from the no and yes movements. They seemed very surprised at the great opposition to an Icelandic EU membership. This meeting confirmed what many people have argued that the leaders of the government are not giving the correct picture of the situation of this matter in Iceland."
Source:
Ásmundur Einar Daðason MP's Facebook page
"Just came from a meeting with members of the European Parliament who are staying in the country. They wanted to meet leading people from the no and yes movements. They seemed very surprised at the great opposition to an Icelandic EU membership. This meeting confirmed what many people have argued that the leaders of the government are not giving the correct picture of the situation of this matter in Iceland."
Source:
Ásmundur Einar Daðason MP's Facebook page
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