Professor doubts EU would accept Icelandic fisheries red lines

The European Union is unlikely to accept Icelandic fisheries demands if Iceland resumes membership negotiations, mbl.is reported, citing David Phinnemore, a professor of European politics at Queen’s University Belfast and an expert on the EU accession process.

Phinnemore was speaking after an interview with Heiðrún Lind Marteinsdóttir, director general of the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners, in which she reiterated the industry’s demand for full, unrestricted and permanent Icelandic control over its marine resources and fishing jurisdiction. That control, she said, would have to be guaranteed in any accession treaty.

Phinnemore said the EU’s enlargement policy had always been based on the general principle that new member states must adopt the bloc’s rules. Although previous enlargements had included arrangements reflecting countries’ specific circumstances, he said there was no example of a new member being allowed to remain entirely outside an important core area of EU policy.

“That is not to say it could not happen for the first time,” he said. However, based on previous precedents and the EU’s approach, he was not optimistic on Iceland’s behalf.

The EU indicated during Iceland’s previous accession process that special adaptations could be made for the country. Phinnemore said those had involved exceptional circumstances and temporary exemptions, although there might still be some room for arrangements reflecting Iceland’s particular situation.

“But I think it is very, very difficult to imagine Iceland standing entirely outside the EU’s common fisheries policy,” he told Intrafish.

He said the EU would also consider what precedent such an agreement could set for Norway. If Iceland were negotiating with the EU while Norway was interested in closer ties with the bloc, the EU would be thinking about Norway as much as Iceland, he said.

The EU was always highly conscious of the precedents it created, Phinnemore said. Iceland should not expect much flexibility from the bloc, he added, noting that the issue would involve not only Brussels but also the member states themselves. Countries with significant fishing interests could find it difficult to approve a special exemption for Iceland.

Phinnemore said Iceland nevertheless had several qualities that could make it an attractive potential member. The country already cooperates closely with the EU, has an important geographical and political position, and would probably be a small net contributor to the EU’s funds.

That did not mean the EU needed Iceland so badly that it would be prepared to rewrite the fundamental terms of membership, he said. He did not expect the EU to compete to bring Iceland into the bloc or make fundamental concessions simply to secure its membership.

As a result, there could be a significant gap between the demands of Iceland’s fishing industry and what the EU is likely to offer if Icelandic voters approve resuming negotiations on August 29.