Brussels, 23/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - Strong divisions exist in Iceland over joining the EU, MEP Cristian Dan Preda (EPP, Romania) stated in the European Parliament (EP) foreign affairs committee on Thursday 22 September. “Those against joining are more numerous and more powerful than those for”, said Preda, who led a delegation to Iceland on 8-9 September. He highlighted four sensitive areas, agriculture, monetary issues, the Arctic and fisheries, which are “at the very heart of the problem and are the reason for Iceland's delaying its request for accession for so long”. Preda is concerned that the government agriculture and fisheries portfolios and that of finance are held by people who are opposed to joining the EU. “The fisheries and agriculture minister Jón Bjarnason is very active in the anti-EU movement and he told us openly and clearly that he will not accord any mandate to negotiate the agriculture and fisheries chapter, quite simply to block negotiations”, the MEP said. (CG/transl.rt)