Iceland rejects reopening talks on EU entry

mytailorisrich

It is logical if indeed sovereignty was a main issue in the debate even if this vote was officially only about whether to resume "accession talks." They have the benefit of seeing the situation in the EU and the direction of travel so it is quite clear that any debates on joining the EU is a debate between continuing as an independent country or being absorbed in a federal EU. A very, very big decision to make.

b1n

If they were truly meant to be in the EU they would just keep running new referendum until their people choose the "right" answer.

elric

How do such referenda work in Iceland? Is this a simple Brexit-style yes/no question? Were people provided with context and arguments as to why (presumably?) the goverment was considering joining the EU?

dgellow

That’s disappointing :(

akmarinov

No new members until veto is dealt with, thanks.

dtnm

There are no non paywall articles on this??

dtnm

Disappointing, however why would they when they already have effective access to the single market and other special relationship benefits. There's just no real disincentive to not join.

greatgib

Regarding the shit show that is the EU at the moment, it is obvious that they have nothing to win to join.

this_user

It's honestly a smart decision. They already have access to the common market just like Norway. Becoming a full member just means being subject to a EU governing body that has proven itself to be largely ineffective and incompetent, sometimes reaching the realm of "outright harmful" with things like Chat Control. Why would you want to be a part of that, especially if you would also be paying for that privilege?

grebc

Good on them.

xkbarkar

Even though I voted yes I completely understand the reluctance to join. EU has shown gross incompetence in many questions and with chat control they are downright terrifying. My own yes was because I would have liked to see the strategy and what EU could have on the table. Even if timeconsuming and costly. And it would have been worth it just to scare the living daylights out of the few mafia families in Iceland that currently hold the fishing quota and treat it as their private playthings. But I respect the choice of my countrymen and (hope) perhaps in another decade when we are hypothetically rid of Ursula Leyden and possibly Swedens and Denmarks terrifying need to peak into everones private lives, Iceland can look at negotiations again.

ur-whale

> Iceland rejects reopening talks on EU entry Good for them. Joining the EU, given the very sorry state that institution is currently in would basically be a pair of concrete shoes at the bottom of the river for Iceland.