"These developments should not be seen as a differentiation between candidate countries, but as a confirmation that the European Union is seriously investing in its future security, stability and strength," says chief diplomat Hoxha.
The special relationship between Iceland and the EU
Iceland officially applied for membership in the European Union in 2009, following the severe collapse of its banking system.
Accession negotiations were opened in July 2010. 27 negotiating chapters were opened and 11 of them were provisionally closed. The new Eurosceptic coalition government suspended negotiations in December 2013.
Iceland has never withdrawn its application for EU membership, and in 2015 it requested to no longer be considered a candidate country.
If Icelandic citizens vote to continue negotiations, the process will continue where it left off. Closed chapters will not be reopened, while work will continue on closing the remaining negotiating chapters.
This is why the European Commissioner for Enlargement considers that, in the event of a positive referendum result, Iceland could complete the negotiation process with the EU in a very short time.
"As a country that is already part of the European Common Market, Iceland can complete its membership negotiations within one to two years," assessed Marta Kos on August 25, in her speech at the Conference of Ambassadors, Consuls General, Consuls and Military Attachés in Zagreb.
However, even if negotiations are completed in record time, full EU membership will not happen overnight.
This requires changes to the Constitution, in order to enable the transfer of some of the sovereign powers.
According to the rules in force in Iceland, the constitutional amendment must first be approved by Parliament, then general elections are held and, after that, the same text of the amendment must be approved again by the newly elected parliament./REL
