EU shows greater interest in Iceland than in 2009

The European Union is more interested in Iceland than it was when the country applied for membership in 2009, political scientist Eiríkur Bergmann told mbl.is.

Speaking on Morgunblaðið’s Dagmál programme, Eiríkur said the EU had changed, geopolitical conditions were different and Iceland was in a stronger position than it had been after the banking collapse. He was interviewed by Andrés Magnússon alongside international political scientist Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson, who runs the stjornmalin.is website.

EU seeks a success case

Eiríkur said the EU was now more flexible towards possible Icelandic membership and had developed an interest in bringing in a country it had not been particularly interested in during 2009.

He pointed to the expansion of the EU into eastern Europe, which he said had been difficult and costly. Iceland would be a different kind of applicant, he argued: a modern, democratic and Western country requiring far less adjustment.

“The Union is in the market for a success case,” Eiríkur said, adding that Brexit had increased interest in a relatively straightforward expansion towards the northwest.

He also said one of Iceland’s biggest obstacles in the previous membership process had disappeared.

“The most difficult thorn in Iceland’s side when it comes to membership talks with the European Union is gone, and that is Britain,” Eiríkur said.

He said Britain had made the earlier talks difficult for Iceland, partly because of the Icesave dispute and British interests in the fishing industry.

Conditions could strengthen further

Hjörtur agreed that circumstances were different from those in 2009 but rejected the idea that Iceland was facing a special and short-lived opportunity.

“I do not agree that there is some crazy window of opportunity now,” he said.

Instead, Hjörtur considered it likely that Iceland’s negotiating position would strengthen over time. He said the country’s geopolitical position would remain important, as would its energy resources and protein-rich food products such as fish.

Hjörtur also said the EU would benefit from admitting a country that contributed more to the union than it received from its funds.

“That is clearly attractive for the European Union as well,” he said.