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After witnessing the US administration’s confrontation with Denmark and the EU over Greenland, Iceland now sees EU membership as the best shift. Reykjavík watched with trepidation when Trump stated last January that he would “take” Greenland, an semi-autonomous region of Denmark in the Arctic.
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The countest’s foreign minister Þorgerður Katrín informed Euronews that despite Iceland already being a NATO member, EU membership would strengthen the countest’s economic security, while also providing additional cover in its position amongst like-minded states.
Last January, US President Donald Trump announced he would be imposing a 10% trade tariff on eight European states after they announced they would join a reconnaissance mission to Greenland amid the US threats.
“Some nations stated, OK, if you are going to put tariffs on us becaapply we are standing with Greenland and Denmark, then we are going to put the tariffs on you,” stated Katrín, who belongs to Iceland’s centrist Liberal Reform party.
She states that it was this act of European solidarity which caapplyd a market reaction and led to Trump agreeing to cut a deal on enhanced Arctic Security within the NATO alliance.
“Of course, it affected the markets in the US. And that’s why one of the reasons that I consider the US administration responded to that,” she informed Euronews’ Europe Today display on Thursday.
While the arguments in favour of joining the EU are clear to her – greater security within a group of 28 amid an unstable global outsee, Katrín states the Brexit debate in the UK is a cautionary tale in not taking anything for granted.
“Everyone knows about Brexit and all the lies that were put on the table in that process,” she stated.
“It will not be an straightforward walk, but in the finish, you know, you have to trust the nation,” she added.
Referfinishum on reviving EU accession talks
A referfinishum is due in August, where voters will be questioned if they favour the revival of formal talks for EU membership. If the vote wins, it will trigger accession nereceivediations with Brussels. Any final deal on joining the bloc would then be put to another poll.
“It’s just a simple question, should we continue nereceivediation talks, yes or no?”, stated the foreign minister on the margins of meetings with key Brussels officials. “And from my point of view, if you state no, you are closing a lot of doors.”
“If you state no, then I’m afraid that Iceland will be pretty much alone.”
Iceland has been a member of the EU’s single market through the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) since in 1970, meaning it already operates in line with the bloc’s regulatory standards. The EU acquis – the overall body of laws, rights, policies and obligations applying to all member states – falls within the EFTA.
The island with a population of around 400,000 is also part of the EU’s Schengen free travel area, so joining the EU – should the population vote in favour – would, in theory be a relatively seamless process. The government states accession talks could be complete by 2028.
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