The Independence Party, of which Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde is leader, will speed up their general meeting by several months and hold it in January, during which they will form a policy on whether Iceland should apply for membership to the European Union.

The party’s central committee agreed unanimously on Friday to speed up the general meeting and appoint a committee to discuss EU membership, Fréttabladid reports.

During the general meeting, Haarde and Minister of Education Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir will re-run for the party’s chairman and vice-chairman.

Haarde said the situation in society has changed so radically that it is important that a general meeting be held as soon as possible and that the Independence Party form a clear policy in all matters concerning society, taking the changed circumstances into consideration.

“We believe that it is right to react to changed circumstances by reviewing the beneficial estimate which lies behind the policy of the Independence Party on European matters,” Haarde said.

MP for the Independence Party Kristján Thór Júlíusson will head the committee.

Minister of Industry and vice-chairman for the Social Democrats, Össur Skarphédinsson, told RÚV that this move will strengthen their cooperation with the Independence Party in Iceland’s coalition government.