Ólafur says Iceland could pay for Montenegro’s EU accession

European Union officials in Brussels appear especially interested in Iceland’s membership application because of the contribution Iceland could make to the bloc, including paying for Montenegro’s accession, mbl.is reported.

Former Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson made the claim during an interview with Stefán Einar Stefánsson on the Spursmál programme, where Iceland’s EU membership talks were discussed.

Ólafur referred to an analysis by Politico, which covers the internal affairs of the European Union. He said the article quoted several officials as saying their main interest in Iceland’s application and negotiations was that, after 30 years, a wealthy country would finally join and pay tens of billions into the EU each year.

According to Ólafur, the analysis also discussed Iceland potentially paying for Montenegro to join the EU. It described that outcome as “the best case scenario”. Montenegro’s foreign minister was asked about the arrangement and said he supported it, Ólafur said.

He added that Iceland’s foreign minister had also been asked whether he was willing to discuss a deal under which Iceland would pay for Montenegro’s accession, and had answered “absolutely” in the affirmative.