– I would very much like Iceland and Norway to join the European Union.
This would be a good signal and a strong impetus for the European Union itself," says Newseria Lukas Kohut, associate of the European Parliament of the Citizens' Coalition, who deals in Europarlamenta with both Scandinavian countries.
Iceland launched the accession process in 2010.
After years of stagnation, the subject of enlargement of the European Union to the north returns to the European debate. Both Iceland and Norway are talking more and more about reconsidering EU membership. There are geopolitical changes, including Russia's threat, Donald Trump's policy, tensions in the north of Europe and the increasing importance of energy security.
Iceland launched the accession process in 2010, beginning 27 negotiating chapters, 11 of which were provisionally closed. Negotiations were suspended in 2013 and 2 years later the government formally withdrew the membership application. Today, however, the situation may turn around. Icelanders, closely associated with the Union through the European economical Area, may reopen talks on full membership within a fewer years.
The Norwegians rejected EU membership twice in 1972 and 1994
"There will be a referendum in Iceland by 2027 asking citizens to resume accession negotiations with the EU. This is simply a large step towards European integration and social sentiments are very pro-European,” emphasises Łukasz Kohut.
The Norwegians rejected EU membership twice in 1972 and 1994. At the time, 53.5 and 52.2 percent of voters voted against. Today, however, in the face of tensions at the border with Russia and the fresh safety situation, the subject is back on the agenda. According to the MEP, Jens Stoltenberg, the erstwhile prime minister and head of NATO, has returned to Norwegian national policy. Fishing issues stay the main obstacle – it was the quotas for fishermen that twice determined the Norwegian vote.
I hope that in this word there will be at least talks about the 3rd referendum in Norway
"The European Union must besides make an examination of conscience and a step backwards on this issue, but I hope that this discussion is ahead of us, that in this word at least there will be talks about the 3rd referendum in Norway," says Euro MP KO. He stresses that infrastructure and military safety are crucial for both countries today.
– Iceland has 4 cables, 2 of which connect it to Europe and 2 to the American continent. The Faroe Islands have only 2 specified cables and Russian submarines appear there, and they are very afraid about this situation. In addition, the Icelanders are besides looking at Greenland, due to the fact that we have seen earlier rather impudent announcements of Donald Trump and let us not forget this aspect of Iceland's safety. In Greenland, it is not that far away, so this safety aspect is crucial – emphasises Łukasz Kohut.
There have been respective incidents in Norway in fresh weeks with drones that have disrupted air traffic
Similar concerns concern Norway, which had already experienced a hybrid attack on the border with Russia respective years ago, on which migrants on bicycles appeared in over a 1000 people. respective incidents have occurred in fresh weeks with drones that have disrupted air traffic.
– This safety aspect is, of course, the subject of a public debate in Norway, besides in the context of the Baltic Sea and the marine threat,” points out the Euro MP.
