Is the EU a solution for Iceland?

[prakkari]

This is a complete falsification and EU propaganda. I am an Icelander and I think I have never seen such a biased report. Is the Eu the new soviet union one might ask. Is this the ministry of propaganda issuing news reports?

I am truly appalled. We are not going to join. Ask the over 2/3 of the nation that oppose it. Here we think of the EU as a criminal syndicate, a racket. And this is not because of illiteracy or lack of facts. Comprende?

[Rotebuehl1]

@prakkari Thank God you think like that! And if the EU-propaganda is trying to get Iceland into this sham of a continent it has to be the icelandic nation itself that has to stop such hoaxes! DO NOT COME TO US! You are going to loose EVERYTHING that's left! DO! NOT! COME! TO! THE E! U!

[charterboywaw]

The EU is the best thing that ever was created and should exist forever.Its a pity that most people dont understand that!

[tylerlove78]

Should Iceland join the EU... The better question is should the EU exist at all.

[KarelYalek]

@tylerlove78

well in comparison what was before (ww1,ww2), i think this is great time for europe.

[charterboywaw]

Because most of Icelandic people are xenophobic and rasist most probably they will vote no in the EU referendum...They are really nationalistic.

[ccclllsport]

@charterboywaw Shut up, How are they racist for keepign hteir independence?

[dduras]

I pray for Iceland to not take EU's medicine. I hope Iceland will create its own debt free currency and break free from the world's bankers. They have an opportunity to set an example for the rest of the world.

May God be with you Iceland. Dont be fooled by the Union's attempts to pick you up...They will only nail Icland to the Cross and Crown thee with Euro.

This is just one American proudly Watching and Cheering for Iceland's INDEPENDENT RECOVERY

[peppersdog1]

for fucks sake stay out of the eu its va failed expensive expriment

[EuroDivision]

Iceland joining the EU is only a matter of time.

[BoneAir]

NO! I vote No to the EU I will do nothing but take control of what is most important to us. The krona will bring us back from the dead!

[Eagle21trueGabriel]

You can bet on that Bilyana Illieva Raeva !!!

[Bolero08]

We are 2/4 saying NO EU. Isn"t it enough?

[PesiCool]

Not a chance in hell I will go under the corrupt new world order of EU..

If we will, revolution is what I will take part in.

[Bungay4]

It's impossible to join the EU for the benefits - and not give things up as well. Not possible to have the cake AND eat it. A big decision for the people of Iceland.

[Yatukih001]

Here´s an advise from me to those who still think that the European Union is of any use whatsoever now that it´s dead. Go to a brain surgeon , ask the brain surgeon to have the right hemisphere removed. A few weeks later , if the EU supporter who does it is still convinced that the EU is of some kind of benefit to somebody , then he can go back to the surgeon and ask for the left brain to be removed.

After that , the now brainless EU supporter can go to a farm , and stay with the sheep.

[Igor707]

REGARDLESS of the current economic crisis uniting of countries is a solution for economic problems we are facing now and shall face in the future. Many, too many industries/services/goods become unprofitable/impossible to deliver for small markets and therefore due to these economic forces it makes sense to fuse smaller nations into a bigger one. All the existing nations/countries on the planet are result of the shaping of these economic forces.

However EU is not solution for anyone.

[Igor707]

European peoples and nations should fuse considering not only economic/geographic but also ethnic/cultural/religious aspects. I think solution for Iceland is union with Norway.

In the similar way Slavic peoples should also unite and form a union separate from EU. For start Russia, Ukraine and Belarus should form a Slavic Union and in that case we in the Balkans would soon join such a union.

[lookingforthemeaning]

it is not for the good of the country.

there are no compromises. you will then do what the EU wants. and your vote will be ever sooooo small.

boot owners and fishers seem to be the clever ones.

you have a stable currency. the Euro is going to crash in the next months

[Efteling4Ever]

"you have a stable currency. the Euro is going to crash in the next months"

Dude, one rarely encounters such a load a BOLLOCKS!

I bet that if they'd pay your salary in Icelandic Crowns for a change that would give you an ENTIRELY different and far more healthy perspective of the EU, the Euro and reality in general.

[FreddieBambino]

at: lookingforthemeaning

Im from Iceland mate, and our currency is total crap. The main reason Icelanders want to join Eu is so we can pick up the euro, so you are way off base.

The icelandic krona was the smallest floating currency in the world, trying to have it stable like a big currency is impossible, interest rates here are usually like 10-18%, meaning it costs a fortune to take a mortgage. Each family will gain like 10.000 euros each year, if we pick up the euro, because of lower interes

[Efteling4Ever]

Do you need to be in the EU if the Euro is your main goal? There are Eurozone countries (Andorra, San Marino) with the Euro but outside the EU. Wouldn't a similar construction be possible for Iceland?? (don't know enough on this topic, so just wondering)

[FreddieBambino]

No its not possible for Iceland, in fact anti EU politicians want us to pick up the Euro unilaterily since they believe we will then never join EU.

Andorra and San Marino are different in a way, since there currencies were pegged to currencies of mainland european countries that no longer exists, like the Lira or Deutsch Mark. There is one exception to this and that is Montenegro, picked up the euro, the ECB was against it, but silently approved it. It wont be the same in our case though.

[lookingforthemeaning]

@FreddieBambino

and you believe that ur morages will go down if u get the euro. hello?? intrestrates have nothing to do with the euro but with the bank you get ur morgage from. the ezb has an interesst rate of 0.75 something. i have just taken a morgage at anamazing low 5.5% but only becaus im paying it back in 5 years. and 10000euro is not worth a breadroll once the inflation hits which it will. after the ezb has been proping up bankrupt countries like lettland an co.

[FreddieBambino]

at lookingforthemeaning.

You dont know anything about economics mate. Interest rates have everything to do with mortgates, central banks fund private banks, do you think private banks then go on and take loan from central bank at 15% interest and then goes on to loan that same money to families for 3%?

It is not unusual for people here to take a mortgate, pay on it for 30 years, and the loan amount stays the same all that time, so people dont even own it after paying from it in 50 years.

[FreddieBambino]

Interest are so high here, that before the collapse, families and companies were forced to get loans in foreign currencies, now the Krona has dropped like a stone so people sit with a debt 2 times higher, but properties that are much less worth than before.

The Euro is the most stable currency in the world, if you want to look out for a currency collapse, look to the dollar.

[FreddieBambino]

The dollar is vastly overprinted now(so badly it is irreversible), to sustain its value, its marketshare in foreign reserves would need to increase, not decrease like it is doing now every year since the euro was introduced. That toilet paper is lying all around the world in governments and corporations reserves, with shrinking marketshare and less demand for it every year, the burden on the dollar price will totally crash him, and much more disastrously than to the UK pound in 20th century.

[Jacobrester]

@FreddieBambino

The European Monetary Union's credibility has been damaged. All of the sixteen countries in the monetary union have either breached or completely disregarded the Stability and Growth Pact by running excessive deficits. Greece and other gross offenders are exposing the EU's inability to enforce fiscal deficit limits.

And the unknown implication of a failure, and/or exit, of a euro member country is increasing speculation of a break-up of the euro currency.

[lookingforthemeaning]

@FreddieBambino giving up you currency and indepenadnce for legal counterfiat money well done!! bravo. he doing it for the kids realy . and the possibility that the bank might lower interest by a half a procent. you have high interest because you need high interest. but instead of doing something about it , just keep the system and change the name of the money:-) well done . you could be a politian

[FreddieBambino]

@lookingforthemeaning.

Once again, you know nothing about economics and you obviously know nothing about Icelands economy. Like I said, people buy a house here, pay for it 30 years and the loan amount stays the same. Im not talking half a percent that interest will be lower. We are talking about 10.000 euros for a normal family every year in interests(not my opinion, calculated many times by economists and organisations)

[lookingforthemeaning]

well im happy you believe in suporting a failing economy with a failing currency. yes the euro is failing. and yes i seem to understand more about economics than you. might not be alot but its keeping me liquid.

buy a cheaper house.

there by making house prices fall. offer and demand. ectectect

[dantemustkill]

XD on tv at 4:30 in the morning

[Efteling4Ever]

Question is also: does the EU need Iceland? Its input being a staggering national debt and ... well that's it. Be honest now. The EU have never been "good enough" for the "free unbound Icelandic soul". Wasn't much of a topic before. "Nasty meddling people preventing you from fishing any species to extinction." So, what is this? Now the Crown is turning into wrapping paper (for fish?) Iceland have suddenly remembered some hard working "old buddies" with real money to bail them out?? That it?

[FreddieBambino]

First of all mate, dont speak of things you dont know anything about. Icelandic population has been split 50/50 on EU membership and joining the Euro for many years now, often support for EU membership has been much bigger than those who don't want to join. Just because the foreign media says we want to join EU now, doesnt make it true. I am pro EU myself but I am not sure Icelanders will vote yes in referendum to join if we apply, especially now after the Icesave deal.

[Efteling4Ever]

To be honest, I don't believe you there. To my knowledge support for the EU has always been a minority (but, hey I'm not Icelandic and may be wrong there).

[FreddieBambino]

You can go to wikipedia and there is a table that showes many polls from 2005-2009. The foreign media always reports these polls like this for example: "Only 48% of Icelanders want to join EU".

They just forget to mention 15% didnt give an answer in the poll so only 37% were against joining. And of course not mentioning that of course Icelanders like all nations are sceptics about joining before they have even applied for joining and seen the admission contract.

[FreddieBambino]

I will send you a link in a personal comment since they can not be shown here.

In most polls there is also majority support for joining the Euro currency.

So Icelanders are not nearly as eurosceptic as Europeans often claim. Norwegians maybe are because most of the nations are xenophobic hillybillies, but Icelanders not as half of our country lives in the metropolitan area, and people living in cities are more positive towards EU than farmers and rednecks.

[FreddieBambino]

Nr. 2. The Icelandic government had almost no debt before this crisis hit, while most European countries had massive government debt. Now after the crisis our government will have similar debt as many other European countries, the only difference is, our government owns all the banks, many companies, in fact it owns about 80% of our economy, after few years it will privatize it and get tons of cash back to lower these debt and we will again have less debt than almost all European countries.

[Efteling4Ever]

That is not the point. They are substantially larger and can afford to get away with debts. Germany had debts and makes even more. Bad, but it won't collapse. The US had more debts, came up with a world crisis and now makes even more debts. Point is that at least these debts are backed up by substantial economies. Iceland was a large player in the financial world but its appr. 300.000 inhabitant economy never even came close to being a counterbalance. "Going into financing" was a bad decision.

[FreddieBambino]

First of all when I talk about debt, I always talk about it in terms of % of the economy. Now we have about the % of government debt compared to our GDP(gross domestic product) like other European countries, after few years we will have lower debt as % of GDP.

Sure, going into international finance was a bad decision, nobody disputes that, but Iceland has very good chances in future and Icelandic economy is much more diverse than foreign media claims it is.

[FreddieBambino]

Nr. 3 Our main problem is the gay crap Icelandic krona. Our debt is so large now because we owed much in Euros and Dollars so when our currency collapsed against those currencies our debt increased very much, if and when the currency gains strength again it will bring down the debt. If the currency does not balance soon, then we will have massive problems and the kind of trouble foreign media seems to think we already have now.

[Efteling4Ever]

I understand. But that your currency isn't doing well is the result of a bad decision: going into financing horrendous sums of money without having a substantial economy to take the blow in crisis times. Why financing? Were there no other options at all? Are there for instance no interesting mineral resources anywhere in or around Island for instance? Why not a Silicon Valley or something similar?

[FreddieBambino]

Nr. 4

You say that our only input would be staggering national debt. Well I am sorry you think that way but I am happy the politicians in EU disagree with you. Iceland has the youngest population in Europe and the fastest growth rate. We are bloody hard working, have among the highest educated population in the world, excell in entrepreneurship and have good natural resources. To tell you the truth, Iceland will do very well outside EU, but I believe we will do even better inside EU.

[Efteling4Ever]

If my original comment offended you, then I apologise. Nor am I claiming you are not hard working people.

But 300.000 people is just 1 large city, even if it is expanding. A high education level can be found allover Western Europe, excellent entrepreneurship as well. As for mineral resources, I doubt a part of that will go to us. Sole beneficiary will probably be Island. So I only see a bail out of debts.

[FreddieBambino]

Look. =)

Nobody is going to bail out any debts for us, inside EU or outside doesnt mater. It is our debt we will pay them. And of course EU doesnt get any of our resources. Do you bail out British debt, no of course not. Do you get any of their resources? No of course not.

When I say we have good natural resources, hard working, high education, young population, I mean that in a way we will be prosperous in the future.

[lookingforthemeaning]

u also have a state bank or?

the EU bank is a Private Bank.

we have thousands of millions of debt to the EU BAnk of which we dont even know who it belongs to. it is not european but private

[FreddieBambino]

About Iceland's economy. Iceland, a nation of only 300.000, produces more alumnium than Germany, UK or France. How about that? =)

While you are paying Russia for gas, we are sitting on tons of clean renewable energy. Already, 99% of Iceland's electricity is by clean energy, goal you have for about 2050.

We get 500.000 tourist here each year, and is growing like 10% each year. Thats almost 2 tourists per person in Iceland. Germany gets not even one tourist per person.

[FreddieBambino]

About Icelands economy part 2...

Iceland alone has like 1/5 size fishing stock that EU has.

Iceland has the youngest population in Europe which will help us very much in future.

We are sitting on mountain piles of fresh water(oil of the next century).

We are well situated for for internationl trading routes. We have one of the largest flight zone in the world(trans atlantic flight) and melting of north pole will turn shipping routes to our benefits, bring many services here.

[FreddieBambino]

About Iceland's economy part 3...

There is now test drilling north east of the country, that a Norwegian company believes it could be the next north sea oil find. I am not as hopeful as most Icelanders about this(faroe islands, greenland have been dissappointed before because of oil drilling) but if there is as much oil and gas as those companies expect, Iceland would be safe for life. But it is not sure that Iceland will find oil there though.

All in all, Iceland will be fine without EU.

[neluboieru]

You meant Trans-Pacific flights. Watch the North American West Coast to Europe flights GPS, and all go over Iceland and Greenland. Cheers and Skoll, you're the best :)

[FreddieBambino]

Thanks mate. Where are you from my friend?

P.S it is Skál but close enough. :)

[lookingforthemeaning]

a hello from germany.

keep fighting the EU.

it is destroying germany

the euro is known as the teuro(expensivo) here in germany.

iceland will survive

the EU is already cracking and failing

[Efteling4Ever]

All EU countries are having financial problems of their own they need to attend to first. Of course the EU would like to bail you out. They just wish to expand into the Atlantic. However, I'd like my country and the EU to sort out their own problems first. When they are done, they can attend to non-member states. You are knocking on the door on the wrong moment.

[FreddieBambino]

"When they are done, they can attend to non-member states. You are knocking on the door on the wrong moment."

Olli Rehn enlargement minister has said Iceland would get fast track into EU if it wants. In July Sweden takes leadership of EU and they (as nordic friend) have promised speedy application. Iceland has already accepted most of the chapters needed for EU membership through EEA contract. This will not take long time and I really doubt anyone would reject our application.

[Efteling4Ever]

"I really doubt anyone would reject our application. "

I wouldn't be so sure. You are not making friends around the EU. The Dutch and British are really pissed off about your Icesave mess. Wouldn't be surprised if they'd go so far as to veto you guys.

[FreddieBambino]

They will do what they must, doesnt change anything, and it definitely wont help them to get their money back. If the dutch and the British want to play hardball on the issue, then the Icelandic nation will be happy to play that game. Im for accepting the Icesave deal, even though it is flawed and not fair in most ways, where is our compensation for example for putting terrorism laws on us and basically closing of all transactions to Iceland for 2 weeks, costing us a fortune.

[FreddieBambino]

This Icesave deal requires us to pay much more than we are obligated by law. The government guarantee behind bank accounts in EU laws is only like 20.000 euros per account, the UK and Dutch upped the limit up to like 40-100.000 per account after the bank collapse without even asking us and then demand we pay it afterwards. The UK and Dutch have refused to take this deal to the courts because they have a good feeling on how it will go and by international law, states can reject going to court.

[Efteling4Ever]

"upped the limit up to like 40-100.000 "

I am not surprised. Healthy Dutch and British "entrepreneurship" :-)

Still leaves 20.000 unaccounted for though.

As for court, I wasn't referring to that. What Britain and Holland have is veto rights and if they stick to their guns the "fast track" into the EU may get a longer one.

[FreddieBambino]

Foreign Media is totally clueless about the Icesave deal, so obvious by the the reporting on it. No parliamenterian in Iceland even thinks about stating that we should not pay what is according to our obligation. And that 20K obligation is undisputed, 95% of the money is expected to come out of Landsbanki's assets in UK anyway, most of the money we are paying are interest on the loans they are "giving us". Its like 2 billion pounds in interest on a capital that will most likely be like 100 mill

[lookingforthemeaning]

looks like iceland is also totaly clueless.

last i heard iceland was going to get an IMF loan off the world bank just like jamaika did. well if that is true then watch "life and dept"

and please get an informed self opinion. the euro wont save but pull you down with us.

[Efteling4Ever]

"it definitely wont help them to get their money back."

Lol. Bet the Brits and Dutch see it differently.

No offense but you guys playing "hard ball" ......

Eventually you will be allowed to join, as the EU itself wishes to incorporate you but it may make your lives difficult first as the Brits and Dutch will try to get something out of it. Even if they don't admittance will definitely not be due to Icelandic "hard ball" but to diplomacy between the UK/NL and the remaining EU members.

[miklabraut2]

Average time UK members of european parlament have to speak for their counrtry:

3 minutes

We need to root out our corruption ourselves, not run to the "protection" of EU lords

[Efteling4Ever]

Naaah, that's just because the Brits don't have much to say, you know.

They just briefly wish to state they "can't be arsed, give a f*ck about the EU although they are a member, are NOT European, do NOT belong to the continent (good heavens, just the thought), will NEVER take the EURO, STILL dislike the French, and will always be against anything out of principle".

And that ... just takes about 3 minutes, you see. ;-)

[Bungay4]

Efteling4Ever, as a Brit I don't agree with any of that. We're Europeans and certainly don't hate the French or any other fellow Europeans. We do have a very Eurosceptic media though, obsessed with the US.

[Efteling4Ever]

Well, you are widely known for your EU scepticism :-) But ok, I know the Brits consider themselves Europeans, don't dislike the French etc. etc.. My comment was not meant as a portrayal of facts, but rather as a funny stereotype exaggeration.

[Bungay4]

OK, fair enough.

Yep, it is a stereotype about the British, partly perpetuated by some of the UKs own papers! But when I speak to friends, neighbours, colleagues, it's quite different.

[alainvig]

Okay then let Iceland join communist China or the Sovietik Union !

and let's see if you like it better !

[Dhaune]

what the hell is wrong with you all, since the eu everything is getting better

[Leifur66]

we have been slaves for so long that we lost our brain, the Icelandic slave have to be slaved so he/she can wake up.

Nobody has been charged or arrested for treason, nobody is responsible for the bankrupt of Iceland, the former Priminister Geir Haarde blames the elfs for the problem.

[Efteling4Ever]

There aren't many elves left in the EU these days. What could they still do here? But on Iceland? Arent't they still lurking behind every rock and stone there? Aren't nearly all "sightings" recorded from Iceland? So who knows. Ever considered perhaps your prime minister was fully correct? ;-)

[Leifur66]

Iceland is corrupted and has been for a long time, worse than Italy.

[Faroez]

Iceland is overtaken by the Russian mafia. Danish newspaper say that.

[Droohie]

Danish newspaper lies.

[francisco8104]

I specialy enjoyed the sentence written by the person before me.....foreigners looking for work in iceland.....

ah ah ah . what foreigners?????????????? who in his right mind would go to the coldest land of europe and dark to look for work....in a bankrupt land........

even the british are talking about the euro now..........

Francisco

[Droohie]

before the collapse Iceland was being flocked by Polish immigrants looking for work, they were the also the first to fuck off when shit hit the fan, of course.

[cinciapocoallegra]

Me, baby. I would like to go there.

[leighandlauren]

Join the EU, todays version of the Soviet Union and see your country dissapear into a quagmire of laws, regulations, loss of your economy, loss of your judicial system and flooded with foreigners looking for work. Wake up people of Iceland, the EU is not the answer.

[alainvig]

Iceland has been a good country for the times of the Vikings, then if they join the EU, they will somber into boredom and possibly massive immigration from Africa and Muslim countries, which may lead to cultural destruction of Iceland.

If it wasn't for the immigration problem alone, I would not have minded at all if they joined, I am pro-EU.

But just for Iceland, that would be catastrophic for all Icelanders.

Iceland must stay like they are or loose their identity over economy.

[perkele0079]

The solution is to produce real things that people need. The need to get back in their fishing boats.