Both parties of the ruling coalition have voted within their ranks to end accession talks with the European Union – despite a public referendum on the matter being an official policy.
DV reports that the Progressive Party has voted, within their own ranks, to end accession talks with the European Union by a large majority.
Pressan reports that the Independence Party has done the same, with the intention to support a proposal – to be submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs – to withdraw from accession talks. This proposal is now online, stipulating that talks will be ended, and EU membership will not be applied for again unless a public referendum calls for it.
This is, however, not in keeping with what the Independence Party promised during the 2013 election season, nor is it in keeping with the joint policy of the ruling coalition.
According to the official platform of the Independence Party during last year’s parliamentary election, voters were promised that “the people will take the decision on EU accession by public referendum during the election term.”
Further, the joint position of the ruling coalition on the matter is that, whilst accession talks were on hold, “accession talks will go no further except by following a public referendum” – by ending talks now, a public referendum on whether to continue them seems unlikely at best.
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