With Iceland vote, EU dares dream of enlargement 'success story'
NO meddling, but fingers crossed: as Iceland votes on whether to resume entry talks with the EU, Brussels is watching from afar in hope the outcome can deliver a rare enlargement “success story” for the bloc.
As the people of Iceland prepare to cast their votes on whether to resume entry talks with the European Union, the EU is quietly watching in hopes of a historic enlargement success story. The small island nation, located in the North Atlantic, has previously applied to join the EU in 2009 following a devastating financial crisis.
However, negotiations came to a halt in 2015 when Iceland decided to suspend its application. Recently, Iceland has rekindled interest in EU membership, citing potential benefits in the current geopolitical climate. A recent poll indicates that the "yes" camp leads with approximately 53% of the vote, reigniting hopes within EU circles.
This potential enlargement has garnered attention from European capitals, with some viewing Iceland as an attractive candidate due to its already close integration with the EU through the Schengen area and the European Economic Area (EEA). Despite the enthusiasm, EU officials have explicitly stated their intention to maintain a neutral position during the campaign, emphasizing that Iceland has nothing to gain from interference.
If talks were to resume, the European Union is prepared to engage constructively, focusing on contentious issues such as mackerel fishing quotas. While negotiations are expected to be challenging, there is optimism that Iceland's potential accession could reinvigorate the European project.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
