According to a newly published opinion poll carried out for Frettabladid, Around 60 percent of Icelanders are now in favour of European Union membership for the country. That is approximately nine percent less than in a similar poll in October. Fewer Independence Party voters now hope for Icelandic EU membership, with their numbers dropping some ten percent in a month.
78 percent of Progressive Party voters want Iceland to apply for EU membership, and the party has decided to re-examine its official position on the issue at its annual conference in January, MBL.is reports.
Support for EU membership among Left Green Movement voters has shrunk by around ten percent to 45.5 percent.
Support for Icelandic adoption of the euro has not sagged to the same degree: 68 percent of people would now prefer the euro to the Icelandic krona, instead of 72.5 percent in October.
Seriously who cares about what Icelanders think? All that matters is what Geir wants? And what his mafia is up to ;)
I’m fully supporting adaptation of euro (or any other strong currency if that matters), but feel really sorry for those 60% who thinks what Iceland has future EU.
It may have few positive impacts, which will improve things for fraction of population but it will generally harm current economy (I’m not talking about banking of course).
And think about it, what’s better – be an independent country or far and dusty corner of some large one?
Or see it that way:
What is better, being a peanut in the sea and have no word to say on your planet?
Or being part of the European Union and see your interest defended against USA and the immense and growing China, Russia and India?
The debat is open. There is certainly the pros and the cons but seeing the big picture is also important, isn’t it?
It is psychology. People are afraid of any change, unless they are really in bad shape. I think Iceland would do better inside EU. I am for 100 % sure you wouldn’t be in this crisis if you were part of EU. Good example is Cyprus. Also a small island on the frontier of Europe, small population, small economy. The main economical engine was low tax regime. Before it joined EU it had to change the tax system what was seen as a big threat to economy. Now with Cyprus in EU and has not suffered any problems from the curren global crisis. Also to surprise of many people Cyprus new tax regime is even more attractive for investments then before because grants access to EU. As you can see sometimes the outcome might be surprising.
Koben, IS may be a peanut lost in the sea, but it definitely had its voice (may be not as loud as UK or D barking, but still). And I fail to see why its ‘interest’ should be defended against US? The country which build Icelandic economy and infrastructure in a first place?
China and Russia… hmm, you mean newly found Oil reserves? But currently Iceland don’t have resources to start development of oilfields and I think any investment would be welcome without caring much where do they come from (money don’t smell usually).
Imo, membership in EU doesn’t seem to be so shiny in a ‘big picture’.
May be you see ‘bright sides’ in something more real then ‘word’ or someones ‘could be potentially harmful’ interests?
I’m personally scared of the USA like most people outside the us. Whether they invented this or that is not related. I’m not scared per se, but rather not so comfortable to know that their preseident can attack a country on the name of god for fighting evil, for instance.
I think it’s crucial to have a balanced (political) power on our planet.
I think one of the best things about Iceland is its independence. Icelanders should be proud of that and stand up for themselves. The EU looks after the eu not its members.
To sleez
You’re right. I’m also afraid of another potential US invasion. I’m also afraid of possibility of drunk Russian officer pressing wrong button and finding out what UK (or any other country) does not exist on the map anymore. I’m afraid of couple of billions Chinese suddenly deciding to migrate to Germany… I’m afraid of brick falling on my head while walking in down town (which is much less predictable and more dangerous to me personally)…
And finally there is a difference between living in fear and being aware of something.
My point is – those who took responsibility of ruling country, must choose right course in full of danger waters of international politics, finding best way to get profit to its own nation.
You can temporary swim together with others, but it doesn’t mean what you should stick with them up to the destination.
It took Ireland fifteen years for the EU to create modernisation of the economy,Iceland already has all the modernisation a country needs ,I say join the EU and let them help concentrate on the finacial side of the economy,,this could take only 2 to 5 years to get back on track.
“The EU looks after the eu not its members.”
The EU is certainly far from flawless, but in general membership has turned out to be very positive for basically all members – if only because Europe as a whole has far more clout internationally than most of the European nations have if they have to act on their own (with the possible exception of the European great powers France and Britain).
The EU has been very supportive for poorer regions, by the way. Ireland and Portugal would not be were they are now without EU-membership.
I suspect that if Iceland opted to join the Euro, and therefore the EU, it would have to negotiate an opt-out from the Commom Fisheries Policy. Most UK citizens would support that, I think, if the UK could share the opt-out.
To Tom Burnham:
>>>>I suspect that if Iceland opted to join the Euro, and therefore the EU, it would have to negotiate an opt-out from the Commom Fisheries Policy. Most UK citizens would support that, I think, if the UK could share the opt-out.
Exactly correct!
The issue of the Commom Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the absolutely critical point for Iceland. Majority of Iceland’s exports are still fish and fish related products. If Iceland were to adapt CFP as it is managed today (which is quite bad), it would quickly go bankrupt (this time permanently).
Energy related industries, are the only other sizeable export industry, but I doubt it would be able to carry the whole country in any near future. Banking and retail was a growing export intustry, but now that it has been forced into bankruptcy, I seriously doubt it can be revived.
If Iceland was able to negotiate an opt-out of the CFP, the question of whether to join the EU would be a relatively easy one for Iceland.
To Tom Burnham.
Well, this actually is THE problem…
Accepting CFP would mean nothing less then economical suicide since majority of income are from fishery and fishery related industry.
Come on in Iceland, it’s safer inside with us all together.
Isolated nations are getting squeezed, international investors flock to the safety of larger blocks.
The EU has provided funds to Hungary, Latvia, Denmark to help them through this crisis… as full members you will get the same automatic help.
You already have to adopt most EU law, pay millions to access the single market tariff free, but yet don’t get a vote on those laws, even if they are against Iceland’s national interest.
Nationalism is yesterday’s news, the new world is about cooperation and integration.
And don’t forget the EU would welcome you with open arms!!!
@Koben
‘What is better, being a peanut in the sea and have no word to say on your planet?
Or being part of the European Union and see your interest defended against USA and the immense and growing China, Russia and India?’
I think you articulate concerns well. The UK has feet in two camps – part of the EU – but not fully integrated – outside the Euro.
This crisis is re-defining attitudes, and a reduction in sovereignty by having full integration, now seems to be more attractive to myself (UK) for the benefits you outline. Despite the quarrel (UK- Iceland) – I would feel more comfortable with full EU integration in the company of the Nordic countries.
If it could be my choice to decide if Iceland should join the EU and most of all to adopt the Euro, I would say definitively YES!!! Because in a globalized world, it is difficult to have your “voice” heard (politically) and your economy stable, such as being part of the EU and the Eurozone allows you. I always think what would have happen to Italy if we were “alone” facing this economic crisis without the “clout” of the EU and most of all of the Euro!!! But thinking about the Icelandic Krona and what’s happening in Iceland, I couldn’t imagine what would have been the economic situation of those countries who now have the Euro as their currency, such as the Austrian Schilling, the Belgian Franc, the Cypriot Pound, the Dutch Guilder, the Finnish Markka, the Greek Drachma, the Irish Pound, the Italian Lira, the Luxembourgian Franc, the Maltese Lira, the Portuguese Escudo, the Slovenian Tolar or the Spanish Peseta!!! Maybe only the Deutsche Mark and the French Franc would have been “strong” in this economic crisis. So, in my opinion:
No Euro, No Iceland!!!
And by the way: on January 1, 2009 the EU member state of Slovakia will abandon the Slovak Koruna and will adopt the EURO!!!
The EU project depends on UK, Germany and France – they will allways be in the frontseat. If Iceland wants to join, they must undestand what these countries want and expect from theis members.
There has been a lot about savers and securing their savings these days. The EU now wants to set a standard of 100 000 Euro. Norway have had NKR 2 000 000 (about 220 000 Euro) for years for each person/saver in each bank. This worked very well in the case of Island banks in Norway. It now seems that the EU wants to force Norway to reduce this guaranty to the same level as the new EU standard.
This is just one of the samples of why there is a majority of Norwegians that don´t want to join the EU. Norway has a relatively strong economy, but if this meens that we not can use our savings and democracy to secure a higher security system than the trhee big ones, than the EU idea has lost in Norway.
Øystein, are you sure about the EU wanting Norway to reduce its guarantee? It’s hard to believe as the 100.000 Euro guarantee actually only sets a minimum amount of money which has to be secured by the member states in any case, but as far as I am aware it does not forbid to expand that guarantee. Germany, for example, now guarantees (or tries to guarantee…) all savings in Germany regardless of their amount.
And yes, the UK, Germany and France are important members of the EU. My guess is that France is probably the most powerful country within the EU framework, whereas Britain has the biggest standing and most influence internationally.
However, these three nations are certainly not the only countries that count and have influence within the EU. Poland e.g. is quite powerful as well and has made other countries like Germany feel her power, and the same goes for other countries. Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden are very important countries as well – regardless of what people write about the EU being a conspiracy of the three largest European countries.
Øystein
The new bank guarantee is now 50.000 euro. Of course countries like UK (100.000), France (70.000) and Italy (103.000) will keep their guarantee plafond.
I don’t see any interest for Norway to be part of the UE. With 50% resources of oil, they better off by them self.
I don’t see how UE can push Norway to adopt the new UE rules… If they do, you just have to sign out of the EEA. Simple.
To Martin Caldwell,
>>>>Nationalism is yesterday’s news, the new world is about cooperation and integration.
>>>>And don’t forget the EU would welcome you with open arms!!!
I know the EU would definitely welcome Iceland with open arms.
Except for few hardheads in Iceland, its not nationalism thats keeping Iceland out of EU, but rather plain reality and pragmatism.
If we join EU, the CFP would open up the Icelandic fishing grounds to the full force of large fishing fleets from all over Europe and concequently wipe out the protected fishing stocks within few years. This is a real worry as it has happened repeatedly elsewhere, including the UK. As a result we would then become completely dependent on the EU for our subsistance.
Icelanders are a proud independent people, that do not want to be dependent on support from other countries for their survival. If the CFP issue can be somehow resolved and/or other significant sources of export revenues can be generated, then I think Iceland would quickly decide to join the EU.
Martin Caldwell “Nationalism is yesterday’s news, the new world is about cooperation and integration.
And don’t forget the EU would welcome you with open arms!!!”
I like my world the way it is so you can take your new world and stuff it, im not about to be intergrated into anything at any time in the future
our forfathers fought hard for our freedom and we are not about to throw it away ,
any one with a glimpse of intelligence can quicly see that we can not have any affect on the EU
if we were to join it, it would rule us, i think there are 300 people on the EU board, we would have 3, we can not trust them not to exterminate our fishing stocks, we are not just thinking about ourselves, its our duty to preserve our nature for the whole world, including you,
i just wish more nations could learn to do that,
money isnt everything, and some things that have been destroyed can not be bought back.
As for USA Russia China etc, we have no reason to fear any of them, we have done busyness with them for a long time with out any problems and intend to continue to do that.
> Peter (Germany). It was an issue by our finance minister on the news yesterday, but I only heard it with my left ear. I understood it as this could be a possibility – a standard €100 000 (or something else) – because thoose countries/banks who can afford higher values, then they will have advantages to get customers these days.
What i heard yesterday is confirmed om the homepage of the Norwegian Finance Department(in Norwegian):
http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/fin/pressesenter/pressemeldinger/2008/eu–initiativ-kan-svekke-norske-innskudd.html?id=537421
This will not be accepted.
Yeah that would be really good wouldnt it !
Join a currency regime when its just about to drop 20% of its value and remain at that level for 4 years or so. (info via. Blackstone Group)
Oh but its ok, we will only have to give up all our fish and take on board laws that are made by someone in a far off distant air conditioned office that has no understanding or knowledge of the location that the new laws would be apparent to : (
Oh and by the way Health & Safety laws are zero here, common sense rules the way and I love it like that !
I would rather be very poor but able to think for myself than be just another sheep with only a little bit of money and no freedom or opinion as I think you Euro’s are in my eyes.
“I would rather be very poor but able to think for myself than be just another sheep with only a little bit of money and no freedom or opinion as I think you Euro’s are in my eyes.”
Your choice. We certainly don’t need you, and many here don’t even want you. Offering to join is just a friendly gesture, but the EU doesn’t really gain anything from it. The fish would be expensive.
Just because WATERMAN tries to elicit an emotional response doesn’t mean he/she’s right. We in Iceland would, for the most part, like to join the EU now. Most Icelanders are secure enough in their own nationality to feel comfortable in the presence of other nations.
We can also see small nations all over Europe who have not lost their culture, ideas or happiness. It’s win-win!
Øystein >>>Ett av forslagene som ligger på bordet er å innføre full harmonisering av dekningsbeløpet på 100.000 euro (ca. kr. 850.000), fra 31. desember 2011.
Could you be clearer on this? Where and when such EU rule has been taken?
I could read on the 15 October the new minimum coverage rule applying for the banks to particulars. http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/bank/guarantee/index_fr.htm
I just know by law, that EU Finance Ministers agreed, for an initial period of at least one year, to provide deposit guarantee for individuals of at least € 50 000, acknowledging that many Member States want to raise this to at least € 100 000. A proposal to immediately increase coverage to € 100 000 would have endangered the support of Member States, a qualified majority of which must agree to the proposal. However, the interim increase to € 50 000 is already an important improvement: It would ensure full coverage of 23% more deposits than currently, i.e. an estimated 80% of deposits. A coverage of EUR 100 000 would then cover 90%.
About Iceland, being a member of the EEA and therefore must apply the current Directive. Once incorporated into EU law, i.e. after publication in the EU Official Journal, the extension of the new rules to EEA countries will be decided.
Country members are free to choose individually to add a higher amount to the minimum coverage level. But in any case, the disbursement time in case the bank goes bankrupt will be 3 days instead of 3 months.
“We in Iceland would, for the most part, like to join the EU now.”
Of course you’re right, Brad. According to the polls, about 60% of Icelanders support joining the EU. I was just annoyed about those anti EU prejudices by Waterman.
If Icelanders chose to join, they’re welcome. But if they chose to stay independent, also fine. It’s not as if the EU has a strong interest in this.
“I just know by law, that EU Finance Ministers agreed”
Sorry this is not yet a law. It has been a proposal adopted by the UE members to amend the CRD.
> orchafine. It says that the EU-Commision wants to set/harmonise to the same regulation inn all EU-countries from 31. of December 2011. The final decision is still not set by the member countries.
Øystein
I don’t think their is point for the counter-propaganda and euro-skeptics getting ahead of them self. The amendment is clear. Norway can keep is deposit guarantee of 200.000euro if they want.
EU would welcome Iceland with open arms, but not for economic reasons. Icelandic economy is too small anyway.
I guess Iceland can negotiate the CFP (which sucks imo) and if it’s not happy with the outcome, it can finally not join. But at least give it a try guys.
The point is, EU is far from perfect, but at least together we can try to change things. Each one alone cannot change a shit.
That’s for the euroskeptics/europhobics who prefer to sit on their couches and observe the world changing, like the old fellows in the mappet show. :)
It is only a subject of nationalisms, political parties with rancid nationalistic ideas, something provincial, thing of isolated, distrustful people: old things. Nobody will attack the particularitities, culture, language, customs of Iceland; nobody attacked the particularitities of Estonia, Malta, Slovenia or Cyprus. It is a Nordic headache: some political parties of some Nordic countries think that EU membership means to be poorer, less pride, arrogance; it is a so stupidic thing: all we are European; we look for the same; together we are stronger; together we can be the best. Those are simply ridiculous ideas today: still provincial, village ideas.
I can understand that a as rich country as Norway does not wish EU membership; perhaps, they think that will contribute nothing to them, and only paying: if they do not wish to be member of the european family, it is their decision, we respected to them. And also I understand, part is happening in Iceland today would not happen if the country had been EU member and currency had been the Euro: now, Icelanders will see profits of the Euro, or not! They can see situation in Malta, Cyprus, Estonia or Slovenia, and they can see situation in Iceland, and situation of the icelandic currency.
To Peter:
Thanks to be similar Spain ( 45 million ), or Italy ( 58 million ), to small countries like Denmark ( 5 million ) and Sweden ( 9 million ), and both no Euro members. It is a very appropriate similarity: 8th and 6th richer economies in the world at the same level that a small kingdom of only 5 million, and no member of the Euro area. Thanks: we value your culture and esteem.
Nevertheless, I am not you and your words, and will give to your country recognition that deserves: I think, your country – GERMANY – is the authentic germ and impelling partner of a united, richer and integrated Europe. Perhaps, France has more political power since it was the european heart of the Western Europe but, authentic wealth is in Germany, and its currency, the german mark – DM -. What is the Euro? Euro is german mark + the rest. Do you remember what was happening in the 90’s crisis – 1992,1993,1994- ? Do you remember how they crawled – UK and France – before german mark? Authentic power would be in Germany; this one was diluted, become blurred for historical reasons we remember. If it had not been by those historical years, Germany would be besides a great economic power, a great political country. Even so, German people looks its chair.
To ‘from SPAIN’:
Neither did I write that Spain is an unimportant power not did I want to imply that. Everyone knows and respects that Spain is a very influential and important country. (And of course everyone who has only a slight interest in history knows that Spain has been the super power of the early modern history.)
What I wanted to say was actually something totally different. All I wanted to suggest is that the EU is not governed by a clan of British, French and German politicians, but that the other members of the EU are important, too. Having read the rest of your remarks I suppose we actually agree.
As for Denmark and Sweden: I did not say that Sweden is as important as Spain. But in the nordic region Sweden is probably the most important power. And it is also a fact that all nordic members states are very respected in the EU – for a variety of reasons.
Germany is an important economic power but it lacks the diplomatic skills, connections and influence of the UK and France.