Linkse Groene Partij IJsland: 'geen referendum op korte termijn over toetreding tot de EU'
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The new Icelandic government is to examine the question of joining the EU and the euro. But the junior partner in the new coalition, the Left Green Movement, says no EU referendum is likely any time soon.
The caretaker government - a coalition between the centre-left Social Democratic Alliance and the hard-left Left Green Movement, backed by the centrist Progressive Party - took office on Sunday (1 February) after the previous administration stepped down.
The changeover comes amid street protests caused by the economic crisis last month, with the European Commission saying Iceland could join the EU by 2011 if it wants to take shelter in the bloc.
The new government has said it will establish a parliamentary committee to examine the question of joining the European Union and whether the euro should be adopted to replace the battered krona.
The committee will report on its findings on 15 April ahead of snap general elections on 25 April.
But the Left Green Movement has ruled out the possibility of an EU membership referendum in tandem with the April vote, despite such ideas being floated by the Social Democrats in coalition talks.
"There won't be any referendum on joining the European Union during the lifetime of this government," Finnur Dellsen, assistant to Left Green Movement party leader Steingrimur Sigfusson, told this website.
The 10-member cabinet of the caretaker government is split evenly between both parties, with two non-politicians also appointed to ministerial posts.
But the radical Left Green Movement has spiked in popularity following the economic turmoil, while bankers and free-market advocates have become persona non grata.
Current polls put the Left Greens at 32.6 percent, with the Independence Party on 22.1 percent and the Social Democrats 19.2 percent, according to Iceland's Frettabladid newspaper.
Mr Dellsen said the Left Greens are open to two referendums after the April election - one to allow negotiations with Brussels to begin and a second to allow actual accession when the talks end.
But his party would fight on the No side in any campaign, he added, saying there is a "democratic deficit" and "lack of transparency" at the heart of the EU, as well as listing worries social provision.
"One major issue is workers' rights - we are very concerned about recent European Court of Justice decisions that could prevent unions from taking action to defend these rights, and on the general neo-liberal direction of policies," Mr Dellsen explained.
Above all, the country is worried that it would have to surrender management of its unsubsidised but highly successful fisheries to Brussels.
"Our fisheries in particular have been maintained in a sustainable manner, unlike those of the EU, which has been unable to control overfishing," said Mr Dellsen.
Meanwhile, Social Democrat Johanna Sigurdardottir - the country's new prime minister and the world's first openly gay national leader - said one of the government's first moves will be to replace the leadership of the central bank, the Sedlabanki.
Despite its left-wing flavour, the government was clear that it would adhere to the programme agreed between the IMF and the outgoing administration, and "base itself on a very prudent and responsible policy in economic and fiscal matters," adding however that it "will, at the same time, prioritise social values, the principles of sustainable development, women's rights, equality and justice."