Most Icelanders are against joining the European Union at this time, according to a recent poll conducted by Capacent.
Of those polled, 50% said they were against Iceland joining the EU, while 33% said they were for it. 17% said they had no opinion. In addition, 61.5% said it was likely that they probably would or definitely would vote against joining the EU if it were put to a referendum, while 38.5% said it was possible or definite that they would vote for it.
Iceland’s parliament voted in favor of submitting a membership application last summer, which was then formally submitted to the EU in July. If the EU accepts the application, the matter would probably be put to national referendum, although no formal date or guidelines have been set.
In related news, an online petition is currently underway for the creation of a union between Norway and Iceland. According to a press release sent by Sylvia Merlyn Kjenne, over the next two weeks the campaign “will assume a more organized form, by registering as a non-profit organization in the Brønnøysund Register in Norway. An update will be sent when the registration and development of guiding principles has been completed.” The press release has apparently been sent to both Icelandic and Norwegian authorities, as well as several news agencies. The petition has so far garnered close to 1,400 signatures.