Link: https://www.politico.eu/article/iceland-fast-track-vote-eu-membership/

Paywall? https://removepaywalls.com/https://www.politico.eu/article/iceland-fast-track-vote-eu-membership/

Really hoping this happens! Will also put more preasure on Norway to join 💯

Very welcome news!

Why would Norway suddenly join? Norwegians already voted against it twice. They are per capita one of the wealthiest countries (the government) in the world, they'd be netto paying loads and loads to EU. They already are in Schengen, got basically a lot of the EU open market advantages without membership. A large majority of Norwegians are still opposed to EU membership.

Iceland is also in Schengen, but they suddenly feel very very threatened by the Greenland nonsense and Iceland is relatively a whole lot poorer, smaller, less people than Norway and a lot easier to invade and conquer (by USA)...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway–European_Union_relations?wprov=sfla1

Great news!

Because they're already paying loads and loads to the EU, by joining the EU they would get a say in how its run.

Iceland isn’t in the EU?

They have historically been against the Common Fisheries Policy.

Welcome, Iceland! 🇮🇸 ♥️ 🇪🇺

I know the dutch at one point pioneered having their fishing ships just load up transport ships that would go out to places where they were catching Herring and whatnot, so the fishing ships could stay on target and get more. That sort of business practice probably didn't endear them to the EU open fishing policies. Especially in modern times with their massive ships with miles long nets.

They wanted to join, but it was never Cod(e) ified.

Beautiful country, beautiful people. Been there, loved it.

Exactly, they pay a lot and don't get all the benefits and have no say at the table where many decisions that will impact them take place.

This isn't the plaice for fish puns!!

If Europe does let in Iceland, it's really casting a wide net, and they might as well throw Canada a line if they do.

Same reason Island are fast tracking this. Cause USA diplomats talk about anexation of these places.

how much are they paying and why?

Oh I can filét that one in my bones!

We love you Iceland! Be welcome and be who you are as you are.

Well done Donald

It should pass as long as Iceland abides by European Scales of Justice.

Iceland is a very weak country compared to Norway. Has a small population and economy, worse geolocation towards USA, no major moneymachine resource like oil and no major savings fund like that Norwegian pension thingy and a government with bareley any public debt at all... Iceland could be an easy prey indeed. But Norway doesn't seem easy prey to me at all. Way harder geography to conquer and control, further away from USA, way larger and more diversified economy. And Norwegians have declined membership 2x already, while in Iceland there has never been a real referendum about it yet?

I'm all in favor of both Iceland and Norway joining the EU, but I really don't see it happening any time soon for Norway, still not also not with recent international political developments.

I would like to thank President Donald Trump for making EU enlargement even more attractive.

Norway participates in a lot of EU programs, these aren't free. I got some outdated numbers, but it looks like they paid around 900 million euros annually from 2014 to 2020.

https://www.norway.no/en/missions/eu/areas-of-cooperation/financial-contribution/

That's already happening. 🤬

Look up supertrawlers.

Yeah this is true, its been voted against twice but its still something a good portion of us want, myself included. While we do have access to a lot of the good stuff from the EU, we also already basically follow all their rules and orders too, we're just not allowed to vote on it... AFAIK if Iceland joins, that would leave only Norway and Lichtenstein left in the EEA agreement. Might as well have both of us join the EU too imo. There are both downsides and upsides to joining of course, personally would like to see it happen.

Yes!! Can't wait for Iceland to join!

We're stronger together!!! 🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺

I've been to Norway and I love it. I really hope your country will join the EU one day. 🇪🇺 We're all stronger together!

It's also worth noting that the votes were held in 1972 and 1994. That last one was ~31 years ago. A decent chunk of people have since been born, grown up, and had a say in a lot of other things since then.

Here in Sweden we had a referendum about switching over to the Euro back in 2003. I remember this, but I was in like third grade at the time, so I didn't get a say. Now as an adult, if we had one today I think I'd vote yes.

Personally I don't think it's reasonable to say "we voted on this 50 years ago and decided it's a no." Like yeah, Sweden voted against the Euro 23 years ago, sure, but I didn't vote. Would the vote be held again today, would it still be a no?

You're right that populations and opinions change, but I think I remember reporting about more recent opinion polls suggesting it's still more than 70% "no". It's a shame, I would like it if Norway joins, but I just think it's still unlikely to happen.

Are the Canadians reading this? Come on, APPLY!
I welcome the Icelanders into the EU.

I don't put much stock in those opinion polls on account of never having been polled myself, nor do I know anyone that's ever been polled. Like if you poll a thousand people that's bothered to look up these institutes and sign up to be their polling partners or whatever, I don't think that's going to be a very good representation of the entire population.