Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir says Iceland would enter any renewed European Union accession negotiations from a stronger position than before, arguing that shifts in global politics have increased the country’s strategic importance. Speaking to RÚV, Kristrún said the international landscape had changed significantly since Iceland’s previous accession talks, pointing to Europe’s renewed focus on security, energy and geopolitical cooperation. Original source: RÚV Kristrún Frostadóttir says Iceland’s negotiating position has improved.
She links the change to geopolitical and economic developments in Europe. Icelanders will vote on 29 August on whether to resume EU accession talks. Changed landscape Kristrún said Iceland’s relationship with Europe had evolved amid heightened geopolitical tensions, making the country a more important partner than during the previous accession process.
She argued that both Iceland and the EU now have greater incentives to work together. The prime minister also rejected suggestions that Iceland would negotiate from a position of weakness, saying the country’s experience, economic resilience and strategic location would strengthen its hand if talks resume. Iceland will hold a referendum on 29 August asking voters whether accession negotiations with the European Union should continue.
A vote in favour would reopen negotiations that were suspended after the 2013 parliamentary elections, although either side could still halt the process before any membership agreement is reached. The referendum concerns whether to continue negotiations rather than whether Iceland should join the EU. Any eventual accession treaty would require a separate national referendum before membership could take effect.
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