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Iceland drops EU membership request; it had suspended the bid in 2013

Friday, March 13th 2015 - 14:35 UTC
Full article 21 comments

The government of Iceland has announced it is no longer seeking EU membership for the North Atlantic state. Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson said he had already informed current EU president Latvia and the European Commission about the cabinet's move. Read full article

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  • Englander

    Wise move but they were black balled anyway.

    Mar 13th, 2015 - 02:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    Quite hilarious.
    Quote from the article: ““Hence, the government considers that Iceland is no longer a candidate country and requests the EU to act in accordance with this from now on,” he added.”
    Quote from wikipedia: “The European Union delegation to Iceland confirmed that as such Iceland had not officially withdrawn the application and remained a candidate country”

    How difficult it is to get the leeches to let go.

    Mar 13th, 2015 - 05:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Porto Margaret

    Good call.

    They obviously do not want to be squeezed for cash to hand over to Greece.

    Mar 13th, 2015 - 06:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    the nation already enjoyed most full membership benefits through deals with the EU.

    The island nation has free trade

    All the benefits without the responsibilities,

    perhaps all the 28 nations could have the same privileges,
    ---
    out of interest, does Iceland pay into the EU like we do...

    Mar 13th, 2015 - 08:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    On the surface it sounds like they are getting a great Deal.

    Not sure about the 'Schengen visa-free travel zone' angle, though....

    Mar 14th, 2015 - 02:05 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Islander1

    Just more evidence to show that you do not need to be in the EU with all its bullshit to trade with it.

    Mar 14th, 2015 - 10:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    Although I have been a life-long conservative voter I did not vote in the 2010 election prior to me coming to Uruguay.

    The reason is simple I checked Camoron out and realised the man has no life experience whatsoever, absolutely nothing of any merit. And it shows in his failures in office.

    If anybody thinks he will ever allow a referendum on leaving the EU I judge they are going to be unhappy: it will never happen unless UKIP hold the balance in the forthcoming election.

    The DT are getting even more hysterical over Farage, which must mean UKIP are doing better than the establishment want.

    Labour continue to be a spent force and the LibDems are finished for good.

    SO VOTE UKIP!

    Mar 14th, 2015 - 10:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pugol-H

    Between salary and expenses old Nigel costs a lot of money, how about this, UKIP get a Pole to do the job for half the money.

    Mar 14th, 2015 - 03:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @7. Regrettably, UKIP has little chance. Reality identifies the number of votes UKIP would need to achieve a majority. To achieve majority power UKIP need at least 11 million votes. Chances? Don't bother. The LibDems need to lose every seat. NOWHERE in the last five years have they acted for 'the people'. Labour. Death by a thousand loans. Death by migrants. Death by dictatorship. Death by arse in the air because Labour loves getting shafted. Or at least watching the people get shafted. If the people of Britain want to do the right thing, there is only one choice. Labour want to shaft you for their own benefit. The LibDems want shaft you for their own benefit. Could UKIP achieve 11 million votes? And there's more. For the Green Party, 'the people' are just peasants. Everything technological becomes too expensive. Want a megawatt of power? Fine. And there's the 90% tax. Importantly, the SNP must be driven out. No more than nationalist terrorists. But they have to be fought and exterminated. A bunch of blue woad-painted savages seeking to conquer. Scotchland already gets more than England, Northern Ireland and Wales. And the SNP, fronted by Labour, would steal even more. More than 300 years of failing to repay a loan now worth more than £2 trillion. And scotchland still wanted to steal more.
    @8. Good old Nigel is worth at least £100 million to the British people. His salary and expenses are paid, at least in part, by the 27 skivers, including Poland. Let's save money. No benefits, of any description, for anyone who can't be produced to the British benefits office. End of hundreds of thousands of child benefits for Poles. Let 'em starve to death. Not our problem. Maybe they could get up chimneys. Neither the world nor Europe is our problem. Can't make it? Hundreds of English people died making it possible to create what we have. Anybody else want we have? Pay the same price. Let's execute 9 out of 10 'immigrants' unless they go back. Including the scotch.

    Mar 14th, 2015 - 05:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    Well,
    whenever we like it or not the time has come ,
    UKIP can make a difference, but, as some have said, they need votes and lots of them,

    politics are changing but not fast enough,
    we have had approximately 115 years of government since 1900,
    and if im correct [please tell me]
    excepts for 1922 liberal government , WW2 a coalition , and 2010 another coalition, its been Labour and Conservative all the way,

    the blame for the mess we are in today , created probably in the last 20/30 years are labour and the cons // libdemms,

    the British need a change,

    all im saying is , if we don't change soon , the British people may well all be brainwashed very soon.

    just saying like,
    Shoot him,
    was that bullet made in the EU or Britain...lol ?

    Mar 14th, 2015 - 08:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #9T
    Thank you for that guide to the political parties. Anything that pisses you off MUST be the correct thing to do so my vote is SNP. Enjoy it when they hold the balance of power. I appreciate your generous contribution to my already too high standard of living although we already pay the highest tax bill per person in the UK. Thank you for your understanding and forbearance.
    I wish you all you deserve. Thank you and goodnight ....XXXXXXXX

    Mar 14th, 2015 - 09:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Skip

    Iceland's entire application was due to how hard the GFC hit the Icelandic economy.

    It is already part of the EEA and Schengen.

    Anyone that follows EU politics had an ink,img this would happen. Just like Norway's application. The benefits don't outweigh the costs.

    Mar 14th, 2015 - 11:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussiesunshinee

    free trade with the EU must come to an end if you are not part of the EU NOW!!! This back door must be bolted shut!! You will pay tariff if you are not of the EU on your exports....then we will see Iceland and Norway knocking desperately on the EU door...

    Mar 15th, 2015 - 03:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #13
    What has it got to do with you ? I don't see either country desperately knocking on the back door--especially Norway ! If their goods were subject to a tariff then they would apply the same to the EU.
    The EU started as a free trade organisation and gradually has tried to build itself into an United States of Europe DESPITE resistance by some member states who did not sign up to this form of bureaucracy and abrogation of national sovereignty

    Mar 15th, 2015 - 06:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussiesunshinee

    what it was and what is is today are two different things. There are new rules and if a member country does not like them they are free to depart.
    do not expect to get in trough the EEA. The back door should be bolted shut. I urgeEU
    member states to consider closing once and for all The EEC which does not help the EU in any way. If you go you pay top tariffs to sell your products in the EU..NO BUTS OR IFS

    Mar 15th, 2015 - 07:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Porto Margaret

    #15 aussiesunburn

    You are on a hiding to nothing, with that argument.

    Neither Denmark, Sweden nor in fact Finland will allow your wishful nonsense regards Iceland or Norway.

    As members of the Nordic Council you can be sure this is their first priority over any EU rumpus.

    Try again.

    Mar 15th, 2015 - 07:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Skip

    Yeah sunshine, not gunna happen.

    Rant for as long and loud as you like.

    Mar 15th, 2015 - 08:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Britworker

    @14

    An anti-EU SNP voter, have you thought that one through at all?

    Mar 15th, 2015 - 10:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #18
    What I tell Conq. that I will vote and what I will vote may be two different things. Could be that I am just pissing him off....or not.
    Pragmatism rules !!

    #15
    As I said it is nothing to do with you as you pretend to be Australian.
    YOU URGE.....You have delusions of grandeur ! What clout have you got, whose ear do you have ? You are just one of the silly little Trolls who frequent this site.
    If you are Spanish-as we all suspect- who cares what you say.
    The Spaniards have screwed the EU for every cent they could get at other member states expense-the UK being a main contributor.

    Mar 15th, 2015 - 11:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • zathras

    “The island nation has free trade arrangements with the bloc and is part of the Schengen visa-free travel zone.”

    So without having to pay a single penny or cent into the EU coffers, Iceland has what most of the UK residents want: free trade and travel.
    Without having to agree to EU laws, or immigration.

    The EU having agreed to do this for Iceland, they can do the same for the UK.

    Mar 16th, 2015 - 10:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    Free trade,

    its called talking

    in or out freed trade is and will be, be tween the uk and the EU,

    prove me wrong,
    when we leave.

    Mar 16th, 2015 - 07:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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