An Icelandic academic has warned that joining the European Union could leave Iceland with reduced control over its fishing industry and expose the country to significant long-term financial obligations.
Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson, Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Political Science at the School of Social Sciences at the University of Iceland and Director of Research at RNH, set out his views in an opinion article published in Morgunblaðið on 13 May.
The article was written ahead of a proposed referendum on 28 August on whether Iceland should revive its EU membership application, first approved by parliament in 2009 and suspended in 2015.
Fisheries Policy at Centre Of Opposition
Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson Professor, Professor Emeritus, University of Iceland, Faculty of Political Science
Gissurarson argues that the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy remains a central reason for Iceland to stay outside the bloc.
“The Common Fisheries Policy is, however, an exclusive competence of the EU, so individual member states must in fisheries matters submit to decisions of a majority of EU member states, including states that do not border the sea,” he wrote.
He added: “No state has a veto over such decisions.”
According to Gissurarson, this means Iceland would no longer have sole authority over access to its waters and the allocation of quotas.
Mackerel Dispute Used as Warning
The professor said the EU’s position during the mackerel dispute demonstrated how Iceland’s interests could be sidelined.
“Because of climate change in the Northern Hemisphere, the mackerel stock moved northward, including into Icelandic waters,” he wrote.
“But the EU would not countenance allowing Icelanders to catch more from this stock. In other words, Icelanders were expected to feed the mackerel, but then allow EU fishing nations to harvest it.”