EU membership debate heats up in Iceland
The question of EU membership for Iceland is set to be brought up at this weekend's annual general meeting of Iceland’s ruling Progressive Party.
A working group on foreign affairs has suggested that the party should put membership negotiations with the European Union on the agenda during the current term of government.
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However, the leadership of the Progressive Party has claimed it has nothing to do with the proposals, according to the online version of the Icelandic newspaper Morgunblaðið.
EU membership would see fierce resistance from many members of the party, which is split on the EU issue.
Jón Kristjánsson, the Icelandic Minister of Health and MP for the Progressive Party, said in an interview with the National Broadcasting Service on Thursday (24 February) that if these suggestions were accepted during the party's annual general meeting it would be a clear violation of the pact between the two parties forming the present coalition government in Iceland, the Progressive Party itself and the Independence Party.
The pact states states that EU membership is not on the agenda.
Iceland is a member of the European Economic Sphere and co-operates with the EU on trade issues. It is also a member of NATO.
