Support For European Union Accession Increases

A new poll shows that the number of Icelanders who support joining the European Union has been on the rise.

Vísir reports that, according to a Capacent Gallup poll conducted for the pro-EU organisation Já Ísland, 45% of respondents said they would probably or definitely vote in favour of accession if given the chance today. This is up from 39.7% in January and 42.2% in February. 55% said they would probably or definitely vote against accession.

By party lines, things are divided more sharply. The largest percentage of EU opponents hailed from the Progressive Party, with 92% of Progressive voters against accession. 83% of voters for the Progressives’ partner in the ruling coalition, the Independence Party, were also opposed to joining the EU.

Where every other party in parliament is concerned, their voters were decidedly positive. 89% of Social Democrats, 81% of Bright Future voters and 55% of both Left-Green and Pirate Party voters said they would all vote in favour of accession.

The results come on the heels of news that Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson is considering not submitting a proposal to end accession talks with the EU, which were put on hold shortly before parliamentary elections in April 2013.

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.”