Accession of Iceland to the European Union

• European Union
• Iceland

Iceland applied to join the European Union on July 17, 2009. Since acceptance of this application on 17 June 2010 Iceland is one of the official candidate countries of the EU. On July 27, 2010, accession negotiations have started.

Until the financial crisis of 2008, the Icelanders behaved waiting until opposed to joining the EU, in particular because of the feared restrictions on fishing rights. Since then, the views in the population and the government have repeatedly changed greatly. Once at the Icelandic parliament election in April 2009, the Alliance of pro-European minded Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir has won the election and formed a coalition with the Left-Green Movement was formed, an EU membership application was submitted to the Presidency in Stockholm on July 17, 2009.

With the parliamentary elections on April 27, 2013, the voters sealed the temporary halt for membership aspirations Islands. In February 2014, the government parties agreed on an appropriate legislative proposals to withdraw the application for membership.

History

The Nordic Passport Union and EFTA

On December 1, 1955 Iceland joined the Nordic Passport Union at, consisting of Denmark ( later Faroe Islands; excluding Greenland ), Sweden, Finland and Norway. The aim was to fight through a labor market agreement, among other things unemployment. Later, the abolition of border controls came into force.

The European Free Trade Association ( EFTA) was founded in 1960 on the initiative of the United Kingdom to offer to the European Community newly created ( EC) is an alternative in the form of a free trade zone. Iceland joined her in 1970.

European Economic Area

After shortly after the formation of EFTA and EC bilateral relations between the two organizations were closed, it was first important successes, as between the EFTA States and the EC free trade agreements have been signed. On 2 May 1992, the Agreement on the European Economic Area ( EEA) was finally signed, so that, among other duties between all EC and EFTA countries all were dropped except for Switzerland.

Schengen Agreement

After Denmark and Finland in 1973 and Sweden in 1995 joined the EU in mid -1990 did on a problem for the Nordic Passport Union. The accession of the three countries to the Schengen Agreement border controls would have to travel to and from Norway and Iceland again have to be introduced. Therefore, Norway and Iceland, signed on 18 May 1999, an agreement to participate in the Schengen Agreement. The Faroe Islands and Greenland were not affected, but were also exempted by a Cooperation Agreement of the border.

2006/2007

After the withdrawal of U.S. armed forces in 2006, which guaranteed until then the security of the island nation, the fear grew in front of a political isolation and there were voices, again approaching Europe. In February 2006, the then government announced that a coalition of the Independence Party and the Progressive Party, Iceland will join the EU before 2015.

The newly elected government in May 2007 from the Independence Party and Alliance announced, however, that the question of EU membership will provisionally shelved because it "does not currently " is in the next four -year term of office. The general attitude of Icelanders was rather skeptical EU. In particular, the fear that important for Iceland fishing rights could be curtailed at an EU accession, contributed to this. As a result of the crisis ( see below ) suggested the mood but to protest against the government. Accession to the EU and in particular the prospect of the introduction of the euro appeared increasingly attractive.

Financial crisis in 2008

Resulting from the 2008 financial crisis, economic consequences are significant for Iceland and the Icelandic krona. Several large banks had to be nationalized, as they would otherwise collapse. The Icelandic government budget fell into a severe imbalance. This was attributed mainly to the government; it came to the biggest demonstrations in Icelandic history. Accession to the EU has become increasingly popular. In particular, the prospect of the introduction of the euro as a stable alternative to the much weakened Icelandic krona had great support.

The Icelandic government had been thinking earlier about the move, but then joined the alliance only open to EU accession. Although the Icelandic Fisheries Minister Einar Guðfinnsson reiterated that he was still against the candidate, one had to consider the question of accession in a new light.

After the start of the financial crisis, the position of some great parties on EU membership has changed. The Progressive Party decided at their party on 17 January 2009 to support the EU accession, albeit with reservations particularly for fishing rights. End of March 2009 was followed by the one involved in the previous government Independence Party to the extent that first a referendum on the opening of accession talks, on completion of another referendum should be held on acceptance of the terms offered by the EU. The Islands, however, the Liberal Party was against joining the EU, as confirmed in a survey of members in January 2009 at their position.

The then EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn put Iceland early rapid implementation of accession negotiations in view. He spoke out against a unilateral adoption of the euro Iceland. The Swedish EU Presidency in the second half of 2009, he sat down also aim the Nordic neighbors Iceland shortened negotiations allow to.

Resignation of the government and new elections

On 26 January 2009, the government resigned due to ongoing protests from the population. Then took over the former Minister of Social Affairs Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir with their Alliance and the Left-Green Movement in a minority government toleration of the Progress Party, the leadership of the country.

In the election on April 25, there was a majority for the coalition Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir. Your commitment to the EU accession led to the conclusion that within a very short time a membership application would be made. On April 26, 2009, they announced that they would make an application for membership in order to hold a referendum on the accession to agree by the end of 2010 can. On May 25, she presented to Parliament a draft law that authorized the accession negotiations.

Application for membership

On 16 July 2009 the Icelandic parliament voted by 33 votes to 28 for the application Jóhanna Sigurðardóttirs. The membership application was on 17 July 2009 by the EU Commission in Brussels and the Swedish government, which held the EU presidency at the time presented. Representatives of the EU held a candidate within two to four years for possible; as the Islands population would vote in a referendum was naturally open.

On 27 July 2009 the EU foreign ministers of the EU Commission gave a mandate to examine a candidate Islands. The report must be submitted no later than one year later. Then, the EU foreign ministers have to vote unanimously on the candidate status Islands. The Swedish EU Presidency has opposed previous declarations excluded an accelerated accession of Iceland.

On September 8, 2009 EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn handed over a candidate questionnaire ( 2,500 questions ), whose response is to be submitted to the European Council. Icelandic Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson stated that they wanted to answer the questionnaire by mid-November, so that the Council could already located at its meeting in December 2009 on whether Iceland has the status of a candidate country. On October 22, the 8,870 -page response Brussels was passed.

Beginning of November named the Icelandic government 's negotiating committee for the accession negotiations. The EU appeared largely satisfied with the response to the questionnaire and presented in early December 2009, some demands. The Icelandic government provided the answer within a few days in view.

On 4 January 2010 President Ólafur Grimsson of Iceland vetoed against the law adopted in December " Icesave " law to foreign savers, particularly in the UK and the Netherlands to compensate. This international loans for Iceland were in danger; the early establishment of Iceland to the European Union was seen at risk. The Spanish EU presidency in 2010, however, looked at the Icesave law as an independent candidate from the process issue. Also, the Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said that the Netherlands will not block the opening of accession negotiations.

On 24 February 2010 the European Commission recommended the opening of accession negotiations, which was approved on 17 June 2010 at an EU summit of Ministers. Iceland ranks among the official candidate countries of the EU. On 17 June 2010, the Council of the European Union gave the green light and the European Parliament for the opening of accession negotiations with Iceland and on 7 July 2010.

In the wake of these developments, a new Icelandic constitution was discussed.

Negotiations

On July 27, 2010, accession negotiations were formally opened. The screening began on 15 November 2010 and ended on June 27, 2011. On that day the formal negotiations began with the opening of four chapters. Goal Islands it was to open under the Polish Presidency (second half of 2011 ), the first half of the chapter and the second half under the Danish Presidency in the first half of 2012. This schedule has not been met: At the end of 2011, one-third of the negotiating chapters were opened and provisionally closed only eight chapters. In the first half of 2012 opened nine chapters were added. Two chapters have been provisionally closed in the first half of 2012.

In 2012 there were in Iceland to a discussion about whether to give up his crown Iceland and the Canadian dollar should be introduced. With EU accession an introduction of the Canadian dollar would not be compatible, since commit EU accession countries to adopt the euro.

In January 2013, a third ( 11) were the chapter closed, open another 16 chapters and not yet opened six chapters. The former Icelandic government planned to conclude the negotiations within a year and in the first half of 2014 to hold the referendum on accession. Because of the parliamentary elections on April 27, 2013 Iceland decided on 14 January 2013 the accession negotiations to open new chapters more, as possibly a new government would no longer advocate EU membership. The negotiations already opened chapter went on.

The previous government parties and the new party Björt framtid ( " Bright future " ) in favor ( ed) the conclusion of the negotiations; the then opposition parties Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn ( " Independence Party " ) and Framsóknarflokkurinn ( " Progress Party " ) called for an immediate stop to the negotiations.

In February 2014, the government parties agreed on a bill to withdraw the application for membership.

Opinion polls

A study conducted by the Fréttablaðið in October 2008 opinion poll showed that 70 percent of Icelanders want to hold a referendum on joining the EU, and 49 percent said they would favor a candidate. Other figures show that even over 70 percent of Icelanders in favor of joining the EU. For the introduction of the euro plead as much as 72 percent.

Surveys in March 2009 showed a slowdown in the EU enthusiasm supporters and opponents were on par.

A published on 6 May 2009 survey by the Gallup showed that 61.2 percent of Icelanders for accession negotiations and 29.6 percent against. On the question of the accession itself proponents and opponents, the balance held.

Thus, nearly 35 percent of Icelanders now are still for accession to the EU and 49 percent against it: - starting in May - by 10 percentage points back in August 2009, the EU - skepticism grew.

In September 2009, the rejection of the Icelander climbed respect of EU membership to a record high of 61.5 percent. As one of the possible reasons for this strong rejection of the attitudes of the British and Dutch governments are seen in the Icesave dispute. For a candidate were only 38.5 percent of respondents.

If the majority of Icelanders continue to reject EU membership in the future, so the country would also upon successful completion of the accession negotiations can not join because a referendum is a prerequisite for the final shot.

Overview of the negotiation progress

The EU considers that Iceland has already ten of the 33 negotiating chapters fully implemented. In eleven chapters, there is a partial implementation through membership in the EEA. Twelve chapters have to be renegotiated, however.

The screening of the chapters began on 15 November 2010 and concluded on 17 June 2011.

On 27 June 2011 the first four negotiating chapters were opened. Two of them could be completed immediately. Icelandic Foreign Minister Ossur Skarphedinsson announced here that his country would under the Polish Presidency half of the remaining negotiation chapters opened in the second half of 2011, including the more difficult Chapter 11, " Agriculture and Rural Development " and Chapter 13, " fishing ". In the first half of 2012, Iceland wants to edit the remaining areas then under the Danish Presidency, but this schedule was too optimistic.

On 19 October 2011 two more chapters were opened and closed on the same day. On the Accession Conference at Ministerial level on 12 December 2011, five additional chapters were opened and four of them completed the same day. There is now a total of eleven chapters were opened and completed eight of them.

In order to advance the accession process with Iceland rapidly, the next accession conference was scheduled for the end of March 2012. With this accession conference, the second at Deputy level, were on 30 March 2012 four more chapters (8, 15, 28 and 31) opened and two of them provisionally closed again ( chapter 28 and 31). In the following Accession Conference at Ministerial level on 22 June 2012, the resolutions were confirmed on 30 March 2012 and three additional chapters (14, 19 and 32 ) opens. In the following Accession Conference on 24 October 2012, the chapters were opened 9, 18 and 29 on the Accession Conference on December 18, 2012 the chapters 1, 16, 17, 22, opens 27 and 30 as well as chapter 8 provisionally closed.

After the incumbent government has decided to open new chapters before the general election in April 2013, scheduled for March 2013 Accession Conference has been canceled. The already opened chapters should be further negotiated. After the parliamentary elections, which led to a change of government, put the coalition of the Independence Party and the Progressive Party of the accession talks.

A study published in the January 2014 survey found that 67.5 % of Icelanders in favor of a referendum on the continuation of accession negotiations. The government parties agreed on February 22, the application for membership officially withdraw without holding a referendum about it. Furthermore, they put to Parliament a draft law to get the approval for it. This decision meant that thousands of demonstrators protested in the streets in front of the parliament building in Reykjavik. On February 28, 82 % of Icelanders were in favor of holding a referendum. About 40,000 people (16.5% of the electorate ) have signed a petition. This requires that the promised referendum.

Negotiation progress:

• Completed screening
• Opening chapter
• Completed Chapter