Brussels, 29/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - A desire to halt European Union accession negotiations is expected to unite the Independence Party (which gained the most votes in the election) and the Progress Party, which are currently negotiating a coalition government in Iceland following the elections.
On Saturday 27 April, Icelandic voters delivered a heavy blow to the Social Democrat Party, which in 2009 launched the country's EU candidacy and based its election campaign on finishing this process. The winners, the right-wing Independence Party and the Progress Party (Centre) have always been hostile to this process. The Independence Party obtained the biggest share of the vote with 26.7% and, during the campaign, proposed that a referendum be organised on the question of whether the country should continue its negotiations with the EU. Its most likely coalition partner, the Progress Party (24.3%), says simply that, in the interest of the country, it would be better to remain outside the Union.
The two parties are involved in negotiations to form a governing coalition, which is expected to include either plans for a referendum or definitively halting the accession process.
The Conservative candidate, Bjarni Benediktsson, who is only 43 years old, has successfully ridden the wave of deep public discontent and is the favourite to become the next prime minister of Iceland.
Peter Stano, the spokesperson for European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle emphasised on Monday 29 April that the Commission had taken note of the elections and congratulated the winners. He pointed out that discussions were currently taking place to form a government but did not provide any comment on the European leanings of the parties concerned.
Although negotiations have been moving forward at a sustained pace (27 negotiating chapters have already been opened and 11 have been provisionally concluded), certain chapters, such as fisheries and agriculture, look like they are going prove difficult. The Icelandic people want to keep total control of their policy in the sector, rather than merge it within a Community whole and continue to negotiate with countries, such as the United Kingdom and Spain, which would benefit from a reduction in Icelandic quotas. In 2011, Iceland fished 1.15 million tonnes of fish, the equivalent of more than a fifth of the EU27's total catch. Is currently involved in a “mackerel war” with the EU27, which has accused the country of overfishing this species.
Iceland is already integrated in Europe by way of a trade treaty with the EU and is also a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the Schengen area. (LC and CG/transl.fl)