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February 25, 2010
This story about EU accession for Icleand was published by EurActiv on 25th February 2010. Iceland yesterday (24 February) took an important step towards EU accession, as the European Commission officially recommended opening membership talks with the island country. As expected, Czech Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle said Iceland had been given the green light by… » read more
January 13, 2010
Iceland is gearing up for EU accession talks to begin in March this year. In a case of seriously unfortunate timing, the Icelandic public are expected to reject a government proposal to repay the Dutch and British governments for the bail-out of Icesave…
January 7, 2010
Iceland’s President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson appears to be a giving a rather strong ‘two fingers up’ to Britain and the Netherlands at the moment, by refusing to sign the ‘Icesave’ bill, sending it to the Icelandic people for a referendum instead. The bi…
July 20, 2009
After the narrow vote by the Parliament, the Icelandic government has immediately submitted its formal application for EU membership on July 17th. The Council will be wise to wait until after the Irish referendum before inviting the Commission to prepare its opinion. Under optimistic assumptions one should assume negotiations to start as of 2010 and… » read more
The new Eastern members, Central and Eastern Europe has been steadily catching up with the Western part of the Union, although at a rather slowish pace. The current depression has seroiusly hit some old and new member states, and less severely other ones, so the picture will be more varied at the end of this… » read more
January 30, 2009
After fierce demonstrations against the government the prime minister had resigned on Monday. The new government may apply for EU-membership, which will be viewed very favorable by the European Union. The head of the new caretaker government is lead by Johanna Sigurdardottir, who is also the first openly gay female premiere in the world. Iceland… » read more
December 1, 2008
Thanks to the Euro, members of the Euro-zone have been able to weather the international financial crisis much better than those outside the euro-zone. Hungary and UK, not to mention Iceland, have seen their currencies coming under pressure for devaluation, as they lacked the solidity and solidarity of the single currency. It is therefore […]… » read more
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Denmark, Dollar, EMU, euro, Euro-zone, Hungary, Iceland, Poland, romania, Sweden, Yen, Yuan |
November 26, 2008
Geir Haarde, the Icelandic Prime Minister has constituted a commission to examine the possibilities for EU membership. His Independence Party will consult on membership as soon as January 2009. This development comes in the wake of the collapse of the Icelandic banking system, which has profoundly shaken the country. A formal request for membership would… » read more
November 6, 2008
Yesterday Croatia has been given EU entry timetable. The European Commission claims it’s not “a blank check”, Paris and Berlin repeat their “no Lisbon – no enlargement” rhetoric, Ljubljana blocks chapters and Zagreb promises to fight corruption. So, nothing new from Brussels… If everything goes well (and I certainly hope it will), Croatia will end… » read more
The financial and money markets have closed with a huge plus today after news came out that the IMF has reached a broad agreement with the Hungarian government. The scheme will involve the EU and possibly some EU member states, too. “A substantial financing package in support of these strong policies will be announced when… » read more
The financial and money markets have closed with a huge plus today after news came out that the IMF has reached a broad agreement with the Hungarian government. The scheme will involve the EU and possibly some EU member states, too. “A substantial financing package in support of these strong policies will be announced when… » read more
The news that the interest rate in Iceland has jumped to 18% (from 16%) is going to have a major impact on such a small economy. BBC NEWS | Business | Iceland’s interest rate up to 18% How the need to make such a move would have been handled should Iceland have been inside the… » read more
October 21, 2008
Iceland may join the EU as a result of the world financial crisis. However, the member of the European Economic Area and NATO had to turn to Russia for an emergency loan. The EU is as much challenged in the West as in the East from Russia. Iceland is one of the world’s most competitive… » read more
