Voormalig premier roept op tot gezamenlijke aanvraag EU-lidmaatschap door IJsland en Noorwegen (en)

The former prime Minster of Norway, Thorbjorn Jagland, has proposed that Norway and Iceland should prepare a common strategy before launching membership negotiations with the EU.

Speaking at a conference in Oslo on Wednesday (5 May), Mr Jagland, who heads the Social Democrat opposition party, added that the Icelandic foreign minister Halldor Asgrimsson shared his opinion.

Mr Asgrimsson will become prime minister of Iceland later this year.

Depending on fish

The two countries have much in common economically with both economies heavily dependent on the fishing industry. Fish and fish products constitute more than 70 percent of Iceland's exports and are by far the most important industry.

And Mr Jagland stressed other issues common to the two countries.

"[The] Norwegian borders to Russia, nuclear power, transport of nuclear power waste and transport of oil and gas are some of the important themes to discus with Iceland", he said according to Aftenposten.

He stressed the importance of the Commission knowing what invaluable resources Norway and Iceland possess.

Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik admitted the issues raised were important.

"What Mr Jagland suggests is in reality a process leading towards Norwegian EU membership. First we need however to clarify if - and in such case - when, Norway would seek membership", Mr Bondevik said.

Sparsely populated

It is expected that the Norwegian EU debate will heat up again in the run-up to the next election, which will be held in September 2005.

Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe with an average of about three inhabitants per square km. It has never applied for membership of the European Union but is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Area (EEA).

In 2002, Iceland's population totalled just 288,000 people of which around 170,000 lived in the capital, Reykjavik, and surrounding areas.