An official for the European Union has made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that the EU will not grant Iceland any exceptions when it comes to whaling.
As Iceland is in accession talks with the EU, the island nation has raised a number of misgivings about joining the organisation. On some of these points – such as agricultural policy or fishing rights – the EU has expressed a degree of flexibility.
However, whale hunting remains strictly off the table.
European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle, responding to a question posed to him in European parliament, said that one of the preconditions for Iceland being a member of the EU would be to uphold European nature conservation law. This would include abiding the absolute ban on whale hunting.
Füle added that EU officials would have to examine Iceland’s case better, and come to a more exact conclusion with regards to what specific conditions the EU would place on Iceland for admittance.
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