r/AskEurope • u/Left_Ad_7145 • Aug 29 '26
History Should Iceland join EU?
Today's vote in Iceland is not a final decision on joining the European Union, but specifically on whether to resume accession negotiations. We are already in the European Economic Area (EES/EEA), we already have access to the single market, freedom of movement.
So should Iceland join EU?
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u/Client_020 Netherlands Aug 29 '26
They're totally welcome to join and if the people of Iceland choose not to, that's okay too. The current level of cooperation seems good to me as well. I'd personally prefer they join, though.
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u/LittleSchwein1234 Slovakia Aug 29 '26
I don't think it matters as much, as Iceland is already an EEA member.
However, the negotiations (especially regarding fisheries) could be interesting and create a blueprint for the UK and Norway to join the EU if the EU is able to compromise.
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u/Defiant-Owl-7935 Aug 29 '26
The fishing rights here are owned by very few filthy rich people that put endless amount of money in the "Say no" campaign.
It's way different for Norway, the Norwegian Oil Fund is nationalized and controlled by the gorvernment. If they would distripute it to every citizen(which ofcourse the shouldn't) it woul be equal to 400.000 euros per person.
They have more to lose then gain then we do. But this campaign funded by the rich that own the fishing quota has been nuts. And they were able to get a lot of the undecided voters..
14
u/Mental_Buddy6618 Aug 29 '26
Iceland should get an eternal opt-out regarding the fisheries. It's not that important for us in the EU, but it is for Iceland.
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u/Defiant-Owl-7935 Aug 29 '26
❤️
I'm hoping somone opens a live post, I'm glued to to the tv and don't really know how to do it aftir 17 years on Reddit😅 First numbers expected in 10 minutes. It will start with a lot of no's at first , it comes the pre-votes that was mostly the older generation.
I will update there, even though I don't know how to start the thread😂💁🏼♀️
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u/madlychip Aug 29 '26
lol norway is not joining the eu even if we get 100% control of fishing.
4
u/Malaguetaxo Aug 30 '26
Yes, unfortunately we're a bunch of nationalist rednecks.
2
u/NorthernSalt Norway Aug 30 '26
What a sad thing to say about your fellow countrymen. Shame on you. There are lots of well founded reasons not to join and far fewer that support us joining.
1
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u/Left_Ad_7145 Aug 30 '26
"No" won the elections by 52,8% and Yes 48,2% Good luck Norway no matter what happens ❤️
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u/Defiant-Owl-7935 Aug 29 '26
First numbers in 10 minutes. That are the numbers from the "Utankjörfundakosningar"(hahaha, it's Icelandic, sue us ..)
Voting for people that couldn't make it today, but a lot of people did it, including myself to just get it over with and not having to stand in lines. It was mostly older people, so no wil most likely have more votes in the first votes counted. That's around 1/6th of the people that are allowed to vote ..
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u/IntrepidWolverine517 Germany Aug 29 '26
Why and on what issues should the EU compromise? I don't see the point of someone coming to join the EU, but at the same time rejecting vital parts of it. This is not a healthy approach.
Iceland in particular seems to want to replace its currency with the Euro, which is fine.
5
u/LittleSchwein1234 Slovakia Aug 29 '26
Fisheries in the case of Iceland and Norway, currency in the case of the UK and Norway
1
u/IntrepidWolverine517 Germany Aug 29 '26
I mean we have fought wars against Iceland regarding fishing rights in the past, why should we now compromise here?
On currency, any exception would only serve to prevent further integration and promote disalignment. No purpose in allowing this except if you are a Russian agent. EU needs to unified and strong, not hampered in decision making.
0
u/LittleSchwein1234 Slovakia Aug 29 '26
You know when the EU will be strong? When the continent's second largest economy willingly joins, no matter the currency.
Even China has regions using a different currency, I don't think a supranational confederation having member countries using different currencies would be such a huge problem.
2
u/Ploutophile France Aug 30 '26
IMO the case of Hong Kong and Macau is, in some aspects, closer to the one of the OCT's in the EU, which are not obligated to use the euro (it's how France has actually two currencies, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands uses four).
1
u/JustMeLurkingAround- Germany Aug 30 '26
I think their dependece on US Military in lieu of having their own army is a much bigger issue for them that fishery at the moment.
Who says that after Trumps Greenland ideas he isn't shifting his focus on Iceland.
They have no own army and right now a treaty with the US is protecting them. If they decide to take over Iceland, whats stopping them?Joining the EU would significantly shift the security situation, I guess.
21
u/Socmel_ Italy Aug 29 '26
Considering that the current referendum is projected to be very close to 50/50, I don't think it should join.
EU membership is a far reaching decision with wide legal ramifications, so not a decision that you should revisit at a whim.
Ideally you want a broad consensus on such historic decisions, and while this is just a referendum on restarting the talks, I don't think it's realistic to expect no voters to change their mind after the negotiations of terms are over.
So if Iceland intends to join on such a flimsy basis, I'd rather they don't join at all.
We already wasted our time with the British during brexit. No need to waste other time with Icelanders.
23
u/Spekingur Iceland Aug 29 '26
The reason for the 50/50 is due to anti-EU bloc paying lots and lots of money for propaganda. According to them we are not voting for renewing negotiation talks but actually voting in joining. If we vote Yes now then our kids will be drafted into the EU military, we will lose our water and EU will force us to sell our energy to mainland Europe through underwater cables. These are just a few of the “talking” points that have been mashed into people constantly for a month or more, through various media outlets. It has been misinformation wrapped into high quality ads and many of us are questioning where the money for all this bullshit is coming from.
7
u/MikelDB Spain Aug 29 '26
If we vote Yes now then our kids will be drafted into the EU military
With all the things they can say and would be true... wtf
15
u/Spekingur Iceland Aug 29 '26
That’s how desperate these idiots are for people to vote No. They make up increasingly ridiculous “facts” and soooo many fucking people believe them. Some of those people want to remain neutral and play all sides for trade, or wait for Daddy USA to save us, etc etc.
Sorry, sorry. Today has tired me out mentally, seeing people I thought I respected, and I thought were smarter than this, spouting these same idiotic things on social media just put me in a mood I don’t like. I need to stop social media, not good for anybody’s mental well-being.
5
u/tekkskenkur44 Iceland Aug 29 '26
and a footballer tagged Donald Trump to ask if we could be the 51st state...
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u/MikelDB Spain Aug 30 '26
Like I fully understand not wanting to cede part of your sovereignty to a larger union and the EU is far from perfect!
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0
u/Loki_123 Aug 30 '26
They make up increasingly ridiculous “facts” and soooo many fucking people believe them.
Just how it went on both sides. You had people on the yes side saying that sweden has pegged its currency to the euro.
You can find bunch of bullshit from both sides.
1
u/Spekingur Iceland Aug 30 '26
There have plenty of stupid shit said but some of those things are a bit more benign than others.
7
u/KotR56 Belgium Aug 30 '26
the EU military...
If only there were one, buying material from European suppliers.
It is time we Europeans stopped being "dependent" on a rogue nation like the US.
sell our energy to mainland Europe through underwater cables
Now there is a thought. An 800-km cable to Scotland? A 1000-km one to Norway ? Sounds like a very profitable business for the Icelanders in the current economic climate. It could make Europe much more "fossil-fuel" independent. And the US, for one, wouldn't like that.
The biggest issue is "fish", however. Who will be allowed to fish in Iceland waters ?
1
u/Left_Ad_7145 Aug 30 '26
I don't see how this would be a good deal for Icelandic people. We currently have some of the cheapest electricity in Europe, so why would we export it if doing so could increase domestic electricity prices? Iceland's energy should primarily benefit the people and industries that produce and rely on it here.
The votes are over and Iceland voted no on EU
1
u/KotR56 Belgium Aug 30 '26
It is not uncommon for governments or companies to decide that profits trump common sense.
Electricity in Iceland is mostly public and government-owned.
Keep it that way.
If someone in the US congratulates you on the decision, you know you made the wrong one.
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u/Spekingur Iceland Aug 29 '26
Our largest companies do their accounting in Euros, ISK and EUR transactions allow them to do some accounting “magic” that the general public has little to no access to.
We are in the EEA but we have no direct say in decisions, those come from the EU. If we want to affect these decisions we have to be part of EU.
I’m fine with us not joining the EU but I want us to make that decision based on reliable facts and on what a negotiated agreement means. This vote isn’t about joining though. It’s about going in for an interview and then deciding if you want the job or not.
2
u/Ebbbern Aug 30 '26
Iceland would get around 5 members of the european parliament, so how much would you even affect EU as a member? Not very much unfortunately.
3
u/Spekingur Iceland Aug 30 '26
We don’t affect the EU decisions at all now, we are in the EEA and to stay in it we have to (eventually) take up those decisions without any say in the original discussion. That’s not the point I was making though. There is a difference between an informed decisions based on real facts on paper versus theorising about what could happen based on inconclusive evidence.
3
u/Ebbbern Aug 30 '26
Im aware, i live in Norway so we are pretty much in the same boat as you 😄
It would have been interesting to see what kind of deal EU would come up with for you, but i also think this is a horrible time to have a discussion about EU.
3
u/Spekingur Iceland Aug 30 '26
I don’t know. Considering the state of the world we might’ve been in a better position than in 10 years time.
0
u/Ebbbern Aug 30 '26
Exactly, people are voting based on the current state of the world which will not last forever. An EU membership however will most likely last "forever".
Russia is burnt out and the war in ukraine will come to a stop sooner or later. Russia is in no position to threaten anyone after this. Trump is halfway through his last term, and will be 6 feet under in a few more years.
The security side of joining, is in my opinion, blown out of proportions 😄
2
u/Spekingur Iceland Aug 30 '26
It’s not blown out of proportions for a small island in the North Atlantic that has no military and has to rely on its neighbours for protection. Thinking this state of the world will be over once Putin or Trump leave this plane of existence is hopeful thinking.
0
u/Ebbbern Aug 30 '26
Iceland is already in the Nato for that reason, the EU dosnt provide any more safety than Nato.
Trump hasnt expressed any wishes for iceland as far as i know, and he dosnt exactly make big decisions like that on his own either 😄 Europe + USA already protects iceland from any other outside threats.
1
u/Spekingur Iceland Aug 30 '26
If the US is looking at Greenland then Iceland isn’t far off their radar. How does NATO help if the US decides to occupy Iceland?
Besides military protection there’s also economic protection. Things like food security is high on that list.
1
u/Ebbbern Aug 31 '26
Its mainly trump looking at greenland, not USA and like i said, he cant make a decisions to invade allies on his own 😄
Nato helps just as much as being part of the EU would if USA occupy. Its not like EU would start a war against USA to protect iceland.
Iceland is fairly safe when it comes to food, you already produce enough basic food to survive on your own.
Joining the EU means removing import tariffs so your small farms would have to compete with the gigantic EU farms. You obviosuly wouldnt be able to compete with them and your own fsrms would close down making you 100% reliant on EU imports for survival.
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u/TORTERAjirka Czechia, New Zealand, 🇳🇱 Netherlands Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26
I don't think it matters that much as they are already part of most of the AQUIS as members of the EEA and party to Schengen Treaty. Their accession will likely be quick as their law is largely already complient. Yes some issues like Common Fisheries Policy Will need to be negotiated, but I assume that would likely be a matter of max 2 years.
But nevertheless, they should absolutely join the EU. More states means stronger union.
7
u/Ploutophile France Aug 29 '26
But nevertheless, they should absolutely join the EU. More states means stronger union.
Until the question of the liberum veto arises.
0
u/Tytoalba2 Aug 30 '26
IMO, it does, by giving them proper political representation, which is always better + military alliance outside of NATO in case of more US madness.
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u/Trap-me-pls Aug 29 '26
Considering the geopolitical development in the arctic currently the safety it provides might be a good point.
5
u/Defiant-Owl-7935 Aug 29 '26
First numbers: 40% Yes/ 60% No
This was from the pre-votes, mostly older people.
1 single ballot was disqualified 😂
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u/Vast_Category_7314 Denmark Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26
I don't have any opinion about what some other country should or should not in regard to something like this, it's entirely up to the people of Iceland.
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u/FearlessVisual1 Belgium Aug 29 '26
It's obviously not entirely up to the people of Iceland, being in a union with them is going to have consequences on us too, so it's as much our concern as it is theirs...
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u/Vast_Category_7314 Denmark Aug 29 '26
I don't disagree, I answered in relation to the referendum, to which I'm simply stating that I will not judge if the people of Iceland should vote either this or that.
4
u/Norman_debris Aug 29 '26
Would you have an opinion on Russia joining?
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u/Ploutophile France Aug 29 '26
Well, if Russia actually fullfilled the criteria to join and has friendly diplomacy with us…
The remaining concern I'd see would be the country being huge and disrupting existing equilibria, but similar stuff could already be said for Ukraine.
2
u/heyo36 Austria Aug 29 '26
Ukraine is very large landwise but has, and thats the avtual relevant part, less people then other existing EU members
1
u/Ploutophile France Aug 30 '26
It still has a much higher population than the other actively negociating candidates, but you're right and the accession of Ukraine would entail less changes to the European Parliament seats than Brexit did.
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u/Vast_Category_7314 Denmark Aug 29 '26
I interpreted the question as "if given the option", should Iceland join, as in - would it be beneficial for Iceland to do so. And my response to that was, that it's up to the people of Iceland to determine if it is a good idea or not.
Russia would obviously never get that option.
1
u/Norman_debris Aug 30 '26
Did you have an opinion on Brexit?
I think it's ignorant to pretend to not care which other countries your country shares a political union with.
0
u/Vast_Category_7314 Denmark Aug 30 '26
It’s not my decision to make, so my opinion does not matter.
Again I’m answering in relation to the referendum.
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u/Rare-Eggplant-9353 Germany Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26
Yeah. Never gonna happen anytime foreseeable. Russia is a rogue state.
1
u/hegbork Sweden Aug 30 '26
I would be fucking delighted if Russia fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria regardless of them trying to join or not.
1
u/Norman_debris Aug 30 '26
Indeed. It's perfectly normal to take an interest in which countries join which political unions and it's odd to say "don't care, that's up to them" like the other comment did.
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u/Teproc France Aug 29 '26
Would you say the same thing if we were talking about, idk, Canada or Morocco?
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u/Vast_Category_7314 Denmark Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26
Fair point, my statement was mostly from the perspective of - if given the option - should Iceland choose to join the EU.
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u/Leading-Fee-4908 Aug 29 '26
I think from Icelands point of view it doesn't really matter. You are doing well under the current arrangements. I think from a geopolitical point of view it is very important for the EU to show they can be flexible in its negotiations and have a new member join.
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u/je386 Germany Aug 29 '26
Iceland does not have Article 42.7 right now (the "nato article 5" of the EU), but they would if they join.
Iceland has no army, and the US "president" already did say that he wants iceland, even if he likely mistook iceland for greenland.
Also, russia stays a threat.I think that it would be good for iceland to join.
2
u/TheGoldenCowTV Sweden Aug 29 '26
They are however in NATO so does that really matter?
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u/je386 Germany Aug 29 '26
That matters the moment the US gets more insane than it is already and invade greenland and iceland.
That this is something that is not total fantasy alono is enough to worry for iceland, which relied on the military protection of NATO, especially the US.
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u/TheGoldenCowTV Sweden Aug 30 '26
But aren't most EU members also NATO members and thus they won't need the EU article 5 and can just use the actual article 5 for the same effect?
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u/je386 Germany Aug 30 '26
I theory yes, but if there would be war between two Nato members, the others hvae to decide what to do, and they can decide to do nothing.
Also, at the moment, most of the reconnossaince is made by the US and the others are not capable of replacing the US role yet.So, having another treaty that clearly binds the members to defend the member is way more than they have now.
1
u/Ebbbern Aug 30 '26
Yes. People are worried about USA because of Trump and think joining EU will protect them from USA. The reality is Trump dosnt make these decisions alone and there would never be any military agression towards either greenland or iceland. Trump also only have half his term left and he's standing deep in a conflict with Iran which will take up the rest of his term in Office.
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u/tekkskenkur44 Iceland Aug 29 '26
we have a defense agreement with the US, but the current Orange in charge doesnt seem to uphold his part of any agreement
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u/Tytoalba2 Aug 30 '26
Not sure how NATO would protect them from the US. Wasn't a concern before but as they go deeper into their madness, it might now be.
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u/Tytoalba2 Aug 30 '26
I mean, it kinda does, would give then a seat at the table so to speak, MEPs, members in council, and a voice to choose the commissioners.
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u/Leading-Fee-4908 Aug 30 '26
True, it would give them more representation, but also more obligations so its a fine balance. Latest news says the referendum to start ascension talks have been won by the No side.
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u/Tytoalba2 Aug 30 '26
Yeah, but they already have many obligations as EEA members, without a seat at the table ! But yes, No has won I believe ! Ho well !
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u/JustMeLurkingAround- Germany Aug 30 '26
So you still trust trump to honour that treaty for your military defence?
I'm no expert, so genuine question: What's stopping Trump to take over Iceland if he gets bored about Greenland?
-1
u/Left_Ad_7145 Aug 30 '26
We shouldn't let fearmongering pressure us into a bad deal, especially when we haven't faced an actual threat. The European Union rarely follows through with severe actions anyway. Mark Rutte calling Donald Trump "Daddy" was pretty pathetic. EU has taken very little concrete action regarding Israel. This shows their response is often limited to talk. But if we do get threatened, then I am sure we might be able to negotiate.
1
u/JustMeLurkingAround- Germany Aug 30 '26
There is quite a difference between a third party country and a member of our own union.
The whole Israel thing just shows you that they won't do much if Trump tries to take Iceland, after all as it is now, Iceland isn't our business and you pointed it out yourself, they don't want to make "Daddy" angry.Anyone trying to take over one of our own EU territories couldn't be ignored by the rest of the EU.
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u/Electronic_West_View Spain Aug 31 '26
> we shouldn’t let fearmongering pressure us into a bad deal.
That’s the thing that I don’t understand. You didn’t vote for a deal. You voted against finding out whether you’d get a good deal
3
u/eduvis Aug 30 '26
Icelanders: "We don't need you."
Also Icelanders as soon as the next crisis hits: "Let's talk, shall we?"
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u/Regular_Paint_7619 Aug 29 '26
That's a question for the Icelandic people.
I don't see why anyone outside of the country should be expected to have strong opinions on what they should decide.
I would welcome them joining if that's what that decided.
2
u/lovely-cans Aug 30 '26
Why would they at this point?
The fishing rules would have to change to accommodate them.
During the 2008 crisis they watched larger economies impose austerity under the EU whereas they were able to devalue their own currency and bounce back relatively fast with a relatively small loan.
They're part of the Schengen zone. It's not like the UK where they have to go back to square one.
If I lived there I wouldn't vote to join. I live in the EU and think it's a good thing sometimes but I don't think it's always good for every country.
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u/Defiant-Owl-7935 Aug 29 '26
Although it's not really on pointe with this discussion, I saw a pretty funny homemade sign on a roundabout on one our strets with the most traffic in the city that said:
No to the EU? Come to papa...
And then a huge silly photo of Trump..😅
1
u/Defiant-Owl-7935 Aug 30 '26
Yes is now 52%. In one of the states it was 9900 Yes and 9900 No, no disqualified ballots. So exactly the same amount of votes😳😳😳
Has this ever happened??
1
u/Defiant-Owl-7935 Aug 30 '26
I know this of course low numbers compared to other countries, it's still crazy that it had exact same amount of votes🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
1
u/MagicOfWriting Malta Aug 30 '26
funnily enough, if Iceland does apply for the E.U. I think it has the ability to join faster than any of the current candidates
1
u/A-Dark-Storyteller Iceland Aug 30 '26
For full disclosure I was at least open to seeing a deal though my big concern tends to remain agriculture, I keep getting mixed messages on that front so I’m honestly not sure. But there is no world where Icelandic agriculture could survive against a European market, so it’s hard to imagine any future where we’re not instead overwhelmed by agricultural products.
So I suppose my question is is there any world where the smaller Icelandic agricultural sector would survive entry into the EU and manage to hold onto the more “pure” meats subject to our rules and regulations
2
u/m0noclemask Aug 31 '26
This is a serious question.
On the one hand I could ask: do you think icelandic wineproducers will have too much competition from italian wine producers?
[Perspective: the market provides the customers with great diversity of produce, the greater the market the greater the diversity]
Are there niches where icelandic agriculture excels? Then EU consumers will benefit from having it on their plates, etc.
What is the deal with icelandic norms, and how "would" they be harmonised with EU standards and norms to create this 'big harmonised market' that is supposed to be mutually beneficial? There it also becomes technical, and I'm no expert there. But I think this might in part be the heart of the matter.
So, how much stricter [or less strict] are they, and how does that fit into EU single market policy.
1
u/-aataa- Aug 30 '26
Some would survive, mostly due to EU subsidies. But agriculture is the greatest issue for any small country joining EU...
1
u/Aromatic_Lab_9405 -> Sep 01 '26
Your agriculture seems to be 1% of the GDP. Is that important enough to consider?
If it doesn't "survive" it would mean you'd have cheaper food am I wrong about that?
What's this "pure" meat thing, can you expand on that?
1
u/Doitean-feargach555 Ireland Aug 31 '26
No. If Iceland wants to keep its fishing, stay out of the EU. The EU was amazing in helping Ireland become a modern country amd practically lifted us up out of an incomprehensible level of poverty, bit the EU also systematically fucked us and has destroyed our fish stocks.
So it had it's advantages and it's disadvantages. If Iceland has access to the market and freedom of movement, why would you join the EU when they will just hoover up your fish? If the vote were again tomorrow for Ireland, I'd vote no.
1
u/SpySophia12 Spain Sep 02 '26
i thought they already were a part of eu. so i dont see a big problem with them joining. but i dont think they want, i mean, they have more freedom and that stuff
1
u/fladdermuff Aug 30 '26
EU= free movement. So no. Iceland have such small population. Why do we want to ruin everything that is special with different countries/cultures
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1
u/Norion1977 Aug 29 '26
That would depend on the deal you will get from the EU. But I realy believe it is worth starting to talk about it.
To me the world seems much less stable than 10 years ago. And as Mark Carney said: "If you are not at the table, you are on the menu."
-1
u/FelizIntrovertido Spain Aug 29 '26
If you share values yes. If you only care about your fisheries, no.
It’s not that your fisheries are at risk in the EU. It’s that the EU is already very complex to add more selfish monologistic member states.
-5
u/Left_Ad_7145 Aug 29 '26
I voted No. Because I don't trust the process or the politicians pushing this.
I think we will get F*** back and forth if we do this But then again I am one of them who is sick of our county being filled with refugees.
11
u/Spekingur Iceland Aug 29 '26
Refugees come whether we are in the EU or not.
This vote isn’t even about joining the EU, it’s about restarting negotiations.
3
u/Smooth_Leadership895 United Kingdom Aug 30 '26
Exactly, Iceland is also a signatory of the Dublin Agreement towards refugees so whether Iceland is in the EU or not, it makes very little difference.
2
u/tekkskenkur44 Iceland Aug 29 '26
there are literally(numbers from 2024) 6373 people registered as refugees in Iceland. Thats 1.5% ... chill out
0
-2
u/Socmel_ Italy Aug 29 '26
Very well put. Ultimately the EU is a community of values. I don't like the utilitarian approach discussions often come down to.
The EU wasn't founded because we thought "let's get richer with more trade". It was founded because the continent came close to self destruction and we thought "never again".
Ultimately I can understand that the countries at the periphery of Europe don't feel the same way, since Iceland or Norway didn't experience WW1 and the core of Europe is geographically distant, but that's not enough to warrant bending our principles for them.
3
u/doepfersdungeon Aug 30 '26
Italy literally disagrees with many of the values that other EU countries hold firm too. It's run by a fascist dressed as populist to start with.
0
u/Thats_my_nirnroot Aug 29 '26
As a Brit, I've come to realise how efficient it is to centralise foreign policy, rather than manage it alone. I can see how that would be extremely useful/efficient for a smaller economy like Iceland.
That being said, Iceland has a very high average income, so having a less-protective policy could reduce that.
The underlying principle of the EU is that the richer members help lift up the poorer members, so it's likely that Iceland would be a net contributor.
I suppose it depends what factors you personally value?
4
u/Regular_Paint_7619 Aug 29 '26
There's a lot of good things about the EU.
A centralised foreign policy is definitely not one of them.
Look at how ineffective the European response to Gaza has been. The tiny amount of action that has been taken has all been pushed by a handful of individual member states as well, as the reaction of the centre was initially to be strongly supportive of Israel.
1
u/Thats_my_nirnroot Aug 29 '26
I suppose your direct disagreement to my points, shows how contentious EU membership can be. As there's rarely a single key issue.
And I invited people to debate the topic..
All I can say, as a Brit, is that the grass is rarely greener...
4
u/Regular_Paint_7619 Aug 29 '26
Oh I think the EU is great in many ways and an overall positive.
Foreign policy isn't one of the benefits IMO.
I'll also add that the EU does have the potential to be positive in foreign policy, but it seldom realises that potential, and in the case of Israel-Palestine has even been harmful at times.
0
u/Thats_my_nirnroot Aug 29 '26
Ok, so I get that you keep bringing up a specific social issue. Which is fine if that's what you value. I support everyone's right to decide such policy.
But it's somewhat different to the point I'm trying to make; as a Brit watching my government renegotiate every single foreign policy, with every country that we've already traded with for so many years.
That's a very expensive task, considering it used to be managed by the EU.
To your point, maybe we could have spent more time arguing social issues, instead of economic ones?
1
u/Regular_Paint_7619 Aug 29 '26
Labelling a massive conflict which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, and reliably been termed a genocide, as 'a specific social issue' is certainly a choice!
Regarding trade I'm not disagreeing with you, but that's not the first thing I think of when you say foreign policy.
Trade is obviously intertwined with foreign relations, but unless something major happens, it's separate from the day to day of how we respond to international events.
The EU has it's own trade commissioner for example, which is separate from the high representative responsible for foreign affairs.
1
u/Thats_my_nirnroot Aug 29 '26
But it is. You feel strongly about that specific conflict, enough to argue it as the main foreign political issue, in your POV.
I personally feel more strongly about the Ukraine conflict. But i consider that to be a separate topic to the point I was trying to make.
2
u/Regular_Paint_7619 Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26
No, it's just an extremely bad faith argument in an attempt to belittle what is one of the major geopolitical issues of our lifetime.
Labelling it as a 'specific social issue' is legit sociopathic behaviour.
At absolute minimum, it's a complete misuse of the phrase 'social issue' in a conflict that has very real human cost.
If you wanted to focus on trade deals and economics rather than geopolitical issues that's perfectly fine, but you should have made that clear in your original comment that you were focused on trade deals.
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u/Thats_my_nirnroot Aug 30 '26
Nope, my initial point was regarding political foreign policy, whithin the context of my experience, as a Brit, following Brexit.
You diverted towards non EU-specific geopolitics, not me 🤷♂️.
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u/Regular_Paint_7619 Aug 30 '26
You wanted to talk about foreign policy, but not non-EU foreign policy?
That makes absolutely zero sense.
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u/Socmel_ Italy Aug 29 '26
A centralised foreign policy is definitely not one of them.
hard disagree. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts and 27 members are able to influence more than they would separately.
Israel can do what it wants because the EU countries are still too economically and militarily dependent on the US and/or they feel they owe something to Israel because of the Holocaust. Nothing would change about it if the EU didn't exist. But look at what the EU is doing with Ukraine.
The US pulled out financially and logistically and the EU has been able to fill the void for the last year.
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u/Regular_Paint_7619 Aug 29 '26
Without the USA, I don't think the EU position would change very much. Some people will refuse to change their views regarding Israel until it's far too late. In many ways it already is far too late.
There's positives to do with Ukraine, but we'll have to see the final outcome before we can judge it as a success. Lately does seem to have some positive developments for Ukraine thankfully.
Though I'll admit I'm also concerned as to how exactly that greater influenced could be used. As recently as last year Friedrich Merz has described Israel as 'doing our dirty work'.
A greater influence can be used for negative purposes as well as positive ones.
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u/MalickeSeminko Aug 29 '26
Definitely not!!! Iceland has nothing to gain out of it. It already has to solve their current issues - for example how they want their immigration to be or social politics and it's such a small country that it is good they have their own control over it. More influence from over the sea may take this control from them and they can become guests in their own country - I know that this sounds like a stupid cliché but if you worked or spent some time in Iceland you probably know what I am talking about. It won't bring anything positive to Iceland. Nothing.
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u/TORTERAjirka Czechia, New Zealand, 🇳🇱 Netherlands Aug 29 '26
It is not true they have nothing to gain out of it. They would be able to decide on the EU legislation they now have to adapt to anyway trough their EEA membership and Schengen Treaty membership.
Also no customs duties(although that could be negotiated separately).
They could also join the Eurozone.
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u/Socmel_ Italy Aug 29 '26
for example how they want their immigration to be or social politics and it's such a small country that it is good they have their own control over it.
you sound very ignorant or else you would know that Iceland is a member of the EEA and has freedom of movement with the EU and therefore, from an immigration point of view nothing will change in their relation with the EU citizens no matter the outcome of the referendum. EU citizens can already study, work and live in Iceland in the same way as an EU member.
How many rubles did you get for your post?
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u/Tanglefoot11 Iceland Aug 29 '26
Iceland has TONS to gain from it!!!!
Immigration processes would be exactly the same as they are now if we join the EU, so that is a bs argument.
Control of the fishing is indeed a very valid point, but as we don't know what is to be gained or lost by joining the EU then it is a silly reason to vote No until we DO actually know.
Opening up motgage and insurance markets to competition would likely see massive bebefits to a huge number of people.
Additional ease of importing and exporting could open up makets for Icelandic companies & make availability of far more products to people in Iceland.
The vote is about negotiations - we don't know the true extent of either positives or negatives until we jave actually negotiated, so voting no before we actually know anything, & when there will be an opportunity to vote whether to actually join or not once we actually know the deal, is nothing but saying no out of fear of any change and ignorance.
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u/Left_Ad_7145 Aug 29 '26
I am an working Icelander and I agree, I voted no. The country has gotten pretty crowded of refugees, and I think this might make it alot worse. This was a pretty peaceful country and I feel it going down hill
I am also worried about our farmers/agriculture Our laws Our electricity Our fish Refugees
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u/Defiant-Owl-7935 Aug 29 '26
I've spent 37 years in Iceland and what you're saying is so far from the truth... We don't own our fishing quotes, the rich do. And they funded the "Say no" movement because they want to keep it. But still they do all their bookkeeping and payment to owners in Euros..gatekeeping it from us. Using it for themselves...
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u/skeletal88 Aug 29 '26
Imagine if they join and the EU stsrts forcing illegal immigrants "asylum seekers" on them. Or forces them to join the idiotic ets/ets2. Or the latest most dumbest rule -the packaging ppwr stuff. :(
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u/Tanglefoot11 Iceland Aug 29 '26
The EU would not be able to force illegal migrants or assylum seekers on us any more that they can do now, so that is a fucking dumbass argumemt.
Joining ets would MASSIVELY benefit Iceland as such a huge amount of its energy production is non carbon emitting.
Do you have an actual good point for them saying no?
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u/Pretend_Challenge_39 Aug 30 '26
No. Why do that? THEY are practical people in need of thermic car engines,they need coal to do their heating.Good for them!
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u/Rare-Eggplant-9353 Germany Aug 29 '26
If they want to.
It's probably not the worst idea considering the geopolitics right now.
But idk. I personally would very much welcome Iceland becoming a part of the EU. They already are a part of it culturally, imo.