Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU

bbc.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

371–380 of 497 posts

Re: Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU

#371

Post by zyuiop »

jonkoops wrote: post #197
zyuiop wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Switzerland is currently in the process of implementing a third wave of bilateral agreements with the EU, and the federal government has indicated that in their opinion the "bilateral way" is the best of both worlds in terms of sovereignty and integration, so I don't think joining the EU will be on the agenda anytime soon

The new agreement basically being the same thing as being in the EU, and aligning further with EU institutions, without actually having a say.

Far from it, EU law would need to be transposed in some very specific areas covered by the agreement, and mechanisms are in place to limit what retorsions can be put in place if Switzerland refuses such transposition.

Re: Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU

#372

Post by regularization »

bluegatty wrote: post #108

These debates are hard to watch. 'Loss of sovereignty' for some reason is perfectly fine for Iceland, Switzerland and Norway, but not UK or others wanting to leave. 'Fisheries' was a small but founding and perennial concern before and during Brexit but they were labelled 'ugly nationalists'. The EU has benefits obviously but it's been failing Europe in critical ways for about 20 yeas now, and the crazy paradox is tha…

> Loss of sovereignty' for some reason is perfectly fine for Iceland, Switzerland and Norway, but not UK or others wanting to leave.

Kind of rich to say after the "Labour" PM of the UK said he would not allow the six occupied counties of north Ireland have a border poll, reneging on the Good Friday Agreement.

Re: Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU

#373

Post by zyuiop »

eloisant wrote: post #204
zyuiop wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Switzerland is currently in the process of implementing a third wave of bilateral agreements with the EU, and the federal government has indicated that in their opinion the "bilateral way" is the best of both worlds in terms of sovereignty and integration, so I don't think joining the EU will be on the agenda anytime soon

You can see it as "the best of both world", or you can see it as having to follow EU rules without having a say in those rules because no EMP.

Yes, but the average Swiss voter is very proud of its direct democracy, and scared that joining the EU would significantly weaken it.

Therefore, having to follow EU law in some very specific areas, while remaining independent in others is a decent path, and a compromise very typical of Swiss policy

Re: Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU

#375

Post by beloch »

The EU needs to develop an associate option for close allies unwilling to become full members. Canada, Iceland, and others are very closely aligned with the EU in many respects and all could benefit from closer relationships. Ask a Canadian if they'd favour joining the EU and they'd probably be all for it, until you start talking about what that means.

Fully joining the EU involves giving up a lot of sovereignty to a body that's too distant from places like Canada or Iceland. These countries are right to fear that their own concerns would be forgotten or ignored if they were to join the EU. Just as different structures are needed when a company grows past a certain size, the EU needs new structures if it's going to grow its influence beyond continental Europe. A middle ground needs to exist.

It also needs to be very clear that associates, close allies, or whatnot are not inferior to full members, just less dependent on Brussels by choice because that's what makes sense for them.

Re: Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU

#376

Post by xaxbxcxdxe »

amenghra wrote: post #150
Beretta_Vexee wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the factors leading them to reconsider EU membership is monetary policy. The Icelandic króna is a very small currency that fluctuates considerably. Switching to the euro would protect them from exchange rate risks with their main trading partner. One solution for Iceland would be to join the eurozone without becoming a member of the EU, as Kosovo and Montenegro have done. However, this would only be desirable…

I love this diagram: https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/1tda6wl/european_in... There are so many treaties besides EU.

Is there any "western" values coalition? Like really adhering to them, not just the "free trade" lowest comon denominator.

Re: Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU

#377

Post by p-e-w »

inigyou wrote: post #360
p-e-w wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No high-income country has shown serious interest in joining the EU in decades. Norway is a hyper-privileged nation that already has several relevant treaties with the EU and has very little to gain by submitting to a system where the Balkan gets to vote on the measures Norway must implement.

are there any more high-income countries in the European geographic area that haven't already joined?

Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Vatican, Liechtenstein.

Re: Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU

#378

Post by hdgvhicv »

mrits wrote: post #68
hdgvhicv wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fishing. Their IQ is high enough to understand it’s not a clear cut answer (unlike say the U.K where fishing is an insignificant part of the economy that was mainly sold off by British fishermen when they retired)

Most parts of an economy are insignificant.

Not in icelands case

Re: Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU

#379

Post by Petersipoi »

squidbeak wrote: post #356
ghusto wrote: post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends who you talk to. I have a mixed bag of UK friends, and it's about half-half. One thing I think myself is that there was an ugly _hope_ that the UK would suffer as a result. A hope which, as far as I can see, wasn't realised. Living in Europe, I saw a lot on the news about how the UK had shot itself in the foot and things were going badly, but when I visit friends, not so much.

> I have a mixed bag of UK friends, and it's about half-half. Polls show the population regrets Brexit. [1] > One thing I think myself is that there was an ugly _hope_ that the UK would suffer as a result. A hope which, as far as I can see, wasn't realised. Living in Europe, I saw a lot on the news about how the UK had shot itself in the foot and things were going badly, but when I visit friends, not so much. The UK…

> Polls show the population regrets Brexit

57%?

Sorry, but a poll of 57% is a tossup. And could even swings the other way when you factor in closet brexiters/trumpers/etc in polls like these

Re: Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU

#380

Post by inigyou »

p-e-w wrote: post #377
inigyou wrote: post #360

Earlier quoted context omitted.

are there any more high-income countries in the European geographic area that haven't already joined?

Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Vatican, Liechtenstein.

Switzerland is the only relevant one really. Norway is practically a member in all but name (Not all members use euros) and the rest are microstates.
Post reply on HN