Bertel Haarder, Denmark’s Minister of Education, believes that Iceland
taking up the euro would have a real influence in Denmark, in
strengthening the argument of pro-euro Danes. Haader, himself very pro-EU, believes that the pro-EU community in Denmark “has proven itself to be right”, he told Morgunblaðið.
“We have promised the Danish people a national referendum but we don’t know if that will be this year or the next. it could take some time. We do of course follow closely what Iceland is doing. I believe that a decision from Iceland to join the EU and take up the euro would without a doubt bear witness to how it is more secure to be a part of the EU than not.”
Iceland’s unemployment rate is currently at about 5%. The EU’s unemployment rate is 7.6% overall. It should also be kept in mind that the EU often considers Scandinavia a model for international structure, rather than vice versa.