Weeks after a veto and national referendum killed the terms of the old Icesave agreement, Iceland, Holland and the UK could go back to the negotiations table as early as next week.
Ministry of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon told RÚV that he intends to begin talks with the Netherlands and Britain next week, although no definitive date has been set. The minister sees plenty of available time after Easter.
However, parliamentary elections are looming in both the UK and Holland – possibly in early May for the former, and 6 June for the latter. The Dutch government – which was forced to dissolve over disagreements with regards to troop deployment in Afghanistan – is not likely to re-form after election day. Brown’s government is also on shakey ground.
This being the case, many have asked whether it would be wiser to wait for the elections before expending the energy on negotiations with parties who may be out of work in a few weeks’ time. The minister said that he expects there to be some delay in talks, as politicians in the UK and Holland gear up for campaign season. Indeed, both countries seem to have put Icesave on the back burner as election day draws near.