Industry wants EU negotiation referendum

At its annual general meeting yesterday, the Federation of Icelandic Industries (‘Samtök iðnaðarins’) passed a motion on the necessity of putting the issue of continuing accession negotiations with the European Union (EU) to a popular vote. The resolution further states that free, unfettered access to and trade with foreign markets is the life-blood of Icelandic business.

Is EEA enough in the long term?

This robust statement is nevertheless something a climb-down for the Federation. The original version of the resolution called for EU-accession negotiations to be continued and concluded, with the final results being put to referendum. This stronger stance did not, however, survive the ensuing discussions and vote process.

The Federation of Icelandic Industries has long been a supporter of Iceland joining the EU. While acknowledging that Iceland’s current participation in the European Economic Area (EEA) has been instrumental in providing Icelandic business with the trade access it needs, the Federation has doubts as to whether EEA membership is sufficient to serve Iceland’s best interests in the long term.

EU maybe not the only option 

This has been something of a week of shifting sands in the traditional Icelandic EU debate.

On Sunday, former pro-EU Foreign Minister Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson directed harsh criticism at the EU for its recent dealings with the new Greek government and declared that he could see no way of Iceland joining the Union any time soon.

Having initially played down Hannibalsson’s comments, the leader of the staunchly pro-EU Social Democratic Alliance (‘Samfylkingin’), Árni Páll Árnason, admitted yesterday on the Hringbraut television channel that he did entertain some doubts about the EU and the euro. In his view, should any better opportunity for Iceland than EU membership present itself, then of course Iceland should consider the matter.

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