Rósa Björk Brynjólfsdóttir, chair of Iceland’s Left-Green Movement, says she plans to vote Yes in this month’s referendum on reopening accession negotiations with the European Union.
Her position is notable given the Left-Greens’ long-standing opposition to Iceland joining the EU. The August 29 referendum will not decide whether Iceland becomes a member, but whether the country should resume accession negotiations.
What’s the Story?
- Left-Green chair Rósa Björk Brynjólfsdóttir says she intends to vote Yes in the August 29 referendum.
- The Left-Greens have historically opposed Iceland joining the European Union.
- A Yes vote would reopen accession negotiations, not make Iceland an EU member.
Talks, Not Membership
Rósa Björk told RÚV that she distinguishes between reopening negotiations and ultimately supporting Icelandic membership of the European Union.
That distinction is central to the referendum. Early voting is already underway ahead of the August 29 ballot, which asks Icelanders whether the government should resume the accession process that has effectively been on hold for more than a decade.
The Left-Green Movement has traditionally been one of Iceland’s most prominent opponents of EU membership. The party has, however, previously contained significant internal disagreement over whether Iceland should complete negotiations and allow voters to decide on a final membership agreement.
That disagreement has deep roots. In 2013, a narrow majority of Left-Green members supported completing Iceland’s accession negotiations and putting the resulting agreement to a national vote, even though then-party leader Katrín Jakobsdóttir opposed the proposal.
The question of what Iceland might seek in renewed negotiations is already becoming an important part of the referendum campaign. Fisheries remain among the most contentious issues in Iceland’s relationship with the EU, given the industry’s economic importance and concerns over control of marine resources.
Rósa Björk’s support for a Yes vote therefore does not necessarily amount to an endorsement of EU membership. Instead, it puts the Left-Green leader on the side of allowing negotiations to resume before Icelanders are asked to make any final decision on joining the bloc.
Source: RÚV
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