Iceland's parliament votes to join European Union
ICELAND'S parliament voted by a narrow margin yesterday to apply for membership in the European Union, moving to relinquish some of the recession-hit country's cherished independence in the name of stability.
Members of Iceland's parliament, the Althingi, voted 33-28 to start membership talks with the EU. Two lawmakers abstained.
Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir wants to submit a membership application to the EU by the end of the month.
A final decision to join the 27-nation bloc would need approval by Icelanders in a referendum.
Iceland's Viking spirit took a battering last year when the country's banking sector and currency collapsed and the volcanic island became an early casualty of the global economic crisis.
The disaster forced Icelanders to consider seeking the shelter, and restrictions, of membership in the EU and possibly the euro currency. Sigurdardottir has said EU membership would provide a more stable exchange rate and lower interest rates.
But many in this tiny, independent-minded nation, whose 320,000 people are mostly descended from Viking settlers, remain opposed, including some in government coalition member the Left Green Movement.
Iceland is already part of the European Economic Area, a trading block that gives Icelanders the right to live and work in the EU while allowing the country to run its own agricultural, fishing and monetary policies.
EU membership would hit Iceland's fishing industry, one of the few sectors to have survived the financial crash and a symbol of national pride.
If Iceland joined the EU it would likely have to sign up to its common fisheries policy and allow other European fishermen access to its waters.
Members of Iceland's parliament, the Althingi, voted 33-28 to start membership talks with the EU. Two lawmakers abstained.
Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir wants to submit a membership application to the EU by the end of the month.
A final decision to join the 27-nation bloc would need approval by Icelanders in a referendum.
Iceland's Viking spirit took a battering last year when the country's banking sector and currency collapsed and the volcanic island became an early casualty of the global economic crisis.
The disaster forced Icelanders to consider seeking the shelter, and restrictions, of membership in the EU and possibly the euro currency. Sigurdardottir has said EU membership would provide a more stable exchange rate and lower interest rates.
But many in this tiny, independent-minded nation, whose 320,000 people are mostly descended from Viking settlers, remain opposed, including some in government coalition member the Left Green Movement.
Iceland is already part of the European Economic Area, a trading block that gives Icelanders the right to live and work in the EU while allowing the country to run its own agricultural, fishing and monetary policies.
EU membership would hit Iceland's fishing industry, one of the few sectors to have survived the financial crash and a symbol of national pride.
If Iceland joined the EU it would likely have to sign up to its common fisheries policy and allow other European fishermen access to its waters.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔$粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.