Politico reports that Iceland would hold a referendum on accession to the European Union as early as August this year. Althing (Irish parliament) is to announce the exact date of voting in the coming weeks. Let us mention that in 2013, negotiations on joining an economical and political union were halted by the government. It was late said that talks about the referendum would not be resumed until next year.
Iceland wants to accelerate the referendum on joining the European Union
One interlocutor of the media company said that "if the Icelandic people vote yes, they can join the EU before any another candidate country." Let us stress that Montenegro is the strongest candidate in line for EU membership.
In fresh times, Irish politicians have been happy to meet with EU representatives in Brussels. Last month, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen had the chance to talk to the Prime Minister of Iceland Kristrún Frostadóttir.
Politico suggests that Iceland's thought of joining the EU more rapidly was born before Donald Trump's second word as president of the United States. It is possible that the United States' threats to Greenland's annexation, as well as the "four-time mention of Iceland" in Trump's speech at the planet economical Forum in Davos, have only sealed these plans.
If the plan succeeds, Poles, i.e. the largest national number in Iceland, will gain fresh rights (including on freedom of movement, work and consumer protection).
One of the main problems that Icelanders may face in their way is the question of fishing rights. "There is, however, 1 fundamental difference between negotiations then and now: brexit," explained Politico, referring to the cod wars between Iceland and Britain in the 1950s and 1970s.
