EU says Iceland’s 2009 membership application remains active

Iceland’s application to join the European Union remains in force because it was never formally withdrawn, an EU Commission spokesperson told mbl.is.

Asked how far the Commission had been prepared to go in granting exemptions from the EU’s common fisheries policy, the spokesperson said there was no comment.

The spokesperson said Iceland remained a close partner of the European Union and that cooperation would continue “on the basis of our excellent relationship”.

mbl.is also requested a response from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding the referendum result, but had not received one.

Icelandic voters rejected restarting accession talks with the EU in a referendum held last Saturday. The no vote received 52.8 per cent, while 47.2 per cent voted yes.