EU Accession Split Possibly Dead In The Water

A proposal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to end Iceland’s accession into the European Union might not be submitted after all.

Vísir reports that Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson considers it “highly unlikely” that a national referendum on whether or not to continue EU accession talks will be submitted during this government’s term. Furthermore, no decision has yet been made on when or whether to submit a government proposal to end the accession talks altogether.

The Minister points out that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told reporters last July that “there will be no new enlargement in the next five years. The EU needs to mark a pause in its enlargement process so that we can consolidate what has been done with 28.”

In light of this, the Minister told reporters, “people are wondering whether it’s even necessary to submit such a proposal [as ending accession], whether it’s clearly finished as far as the EU is concerned.”

As reported, the ruling coalition announced last February their intentions to end EU accession talks, which were put on hold shortly before parliamentary elections in April 2013.

The announcement sparked protests in the thousands, as well as a petition calling upon the coalition to keep their campaign promise of submitting the EU question to national referendum.