Despite a strongly-worded letter from Iceland’s Foreign Minister, the European Union appears to still consider the country on its way to accession.
According to a new report released by the EU, Iceland still appears on the list of countries seeking accession into the European Union.
As reported, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragu Sveinsson sent a letter to EU President Edgars Rinkevics in March, informing him that Iceland was no longer seeking to join the EU. However, the move prompted protests, with critics pointing out that the letter itself might be a violation of Article 8.b. of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, which requires all major decisions to be put to a parliamentary vote.
Further, spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Maja Kocijančič maintained that Gunnar Bragi’s letter doesn’t count.
“We have been saying for the last two years that obviously it’s the prerogative of Iceland to decide – in a free and sovereign decision – how they want to pursue their relationship with the European Union,” Kocijančič told Vísir at the time. “But in our view, the letter in itself does not amount to the withdrawal of the membership application.”
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