Too cold to handle: EU accession talks with Iceland. CEPS Commentary, 3 June 2013

• Main Author: Blockmans, Steven
• Format: Report
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: enlargement; Iceland
• Online Access: http://aei.pitt.edu/42463/; http://aei.pitt.edu/42463/1/S_Blockmans_Commentary_Iceland_accessions_talks_final.pdf; http://www.ceps.be/book/too-cold-handle-eu-accession-talks-iceland

Recent opinion polls suggest that most Icelanders are against joining the EU. By the same token, however, a majority of those polled are in favour of continuing accession talks. These results show that Iceland’s relationship with the EU is a deeply divisive issue within the country. Although no date for the referendum has been set, the new centre-right coalition may thus want to settle this matter as soon as possible. Should there indeed be a majority in support of continuing negotiations, then Iceland’s accession process will become a complicated and cool affair in the hands of an anti-EU membership coalition government.