The majority of the Constitutional and Supervisory Committee says in its commentary on the proposal for a parliamentary resolution on a referendum on the continuation of negotiations on Iceland’s membership in the European Union that it is the majority’s assessment that the claim that Iceland’s application for membership in the EU is still valid must be questioned.
It is pointed out that the European Commission has confirmed the understanding of the Icelandic government that Iceland’s application is still valid. However, it must also be ensured that a valid application does not imply the certainty that it will be possible to start negotiations where they left off, that is to say that it will be possible to maintain the results of the membership negotiations that took place between 2009 and 2013.
The committee examined two interpretations of the question, on the one hand the one proposed by the majority and on the other hand the one proposed by the minority, as can be seen below.
The wording of the questions was submitted to the National Electoral Commission, which gave its blessing to both versions and said they met the criteria of clarity, comprehensibility and neutrality.
The initial proposal of the Secretary of State:
“Should the talks on Iceland’s accession to the European Union continue?”
- Yes, continue the talks on Iceland’s membership in the European Union.
- No, do not continue negotiations on Iceland’s accession to the European Union.
The proposal of the majority of the Constitutional and Supervisory Committee:
“Should Iceland restart membership negotiations with the European Union?”
Proposal of the minority of the Constitutional and Supervisory Committee:
“Should Iceland enter membership negotiations with the European Union?”
The majority rejected the version supported by the minority on the grounds that it indicates that negotiations are at a starting point and that Iceland may even have to apply again. The majority comment states that it is important that the question refers to previous membership negotiations, without taking a position on their status.
According to the minority opinion, he wants to both postpone the referendum from August 29 to October 17 and change the question. The minority says they truly agree with the wording in the foreign minister’s question, that talks are being held “again”, but interprets it differently. That is to say, while the minister assumes that the old negotiations are being restarted, the minority believes that new negotiations are in question since the membership application from 2009 has indeed been withdrawn.
Commentary of the majority of the Constitutional and Supervisory Committee.
Review of the minority of the Constitutional and Supervisory Committee.
