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Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU

bbc.com

271–280 of 495 posts

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

#271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure for a small country like Iceland if it make sense to use Euro over having control over their currency. Things could get super expensive overnight and it would work when things are smooth, but in current political climate you never know when the next financial crisis going to happen and don’t think they want Brussels to dictate their monetary policy

You obviously haven’t been to Iceland. Things already are extremely expensive.

Converting to Euros would make it more expensive. Daily groceries could become a luxury

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

#272
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What agreement? To join the EU you must change a lot of internal structures in your own government first, a lor of regulations must be changed to align with EU versions, laws have to be changed, even basics, like drivers licences and other documents. Why spend millions if not billions on all that, impose laws that are maybe bad for normal people, and then figure out that people don't actually want to join the EU?

You would hold the confirmatory vote before you do all of that. You'd go to the EU, agree what joining looks like, and before doing any of the actual implementation you hold the vote

The joining process is already precisely defined.

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

#273

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The never ending creeping need for more power tends to have these results. EU will either collapse or become a mega state that will later collapse, the problem is mostly that people view things in terms of elections, but downfall happens during much longer periods of time.

The most likely outcome is that the EU is more or less what it is now for the decades to come, and the lack of reform costs significantly in terms of progress, and that Europe misses out on leading key industrial elements and becomes less relevant to global affairs especially as a lot of so-called 'global south' countries become more successful. The dynamic of Europe sending all the talent to US is probably just goin…

The EU is cooked unless they can figure out domestic industry. They currently have a US tech stack because they strangled Euro tech in the cradle, and now that things are rough with the US, they are looking to China to be their new, err, "trading partner". Anything other than realize they went way to far with "kill enterprise, embrace relaxation" mindset.

Trust beyond anything else, when money gets to be tight, and the lavish promised benefits of the state start to dry up, the member states will pull swords on each other faster than anyone else.

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

#274
post #117

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…

If the króna fluctuates so much, wouldn't that also indicate that demand for the króna just fluctuates a lot? Presumably, in absence of major conflicts between Iceland and its trading partners, as a result of economic imbalances. Those won't go away if Iceland were to join the eurozone, either as a EU member or via the Kosovo/Montenegro route. It might deprive the Icelandic central bank of a valuable tool to stabiliz…

A small boat will jump up and down in relatively small waves, while it takes a huge storm to destabilize Oasis of the Seas.

And the króna is a very small boat.

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

#275

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You guys are beyond parody. What an unserious place to discuss anything this is.

[flagged]

Do you understand that a massive project like the EU has pros and cons, and things are not unidimensional? I am against chat control, but there is more to the EU than that.

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

#276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most likely outcome is that the EU is more or less what it is now for the decades to come, and the lack of reform costs significantly in terms of progress, and that Europe misses out on leading key industrial elements and becomes less relevant to global affairs especially as a lot of so-called 'global south' countries become more successful. The dynamic of Europe sending all the talent to US is probably just goin…

The EU is cooked unless they can figure out domestic industry. They currently have a US tech stack because they strangled Euro tech in the cradle, and now that things are rough with the US, they are looking to China to be their new, err, "trading partner". Anything other than realize they went way to far with "kill enterprise, embrace relaxation" mindset. Trust beyond anything else, when money gets to be tight, and t…

You know what, there is something about China i see people are failing to realize, but china is creating dependcy more than competency, they first makes you me and everyone depend on them, then, they will start to make rules at a point where no one will be able to object

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

#277
post #74
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I feel the UK were wrong to leave [..] Whether it was the correct decision or not, it was done via a democratic vote. Now the leaders of the UK look to entangle the UK into the EU structure that is evidently against their mandate.

The vote was to leave or stay - there was no mandate for or against a specific relationship to the EU before even considering how drastically opinions have shifted since.

And there was considerable debate prior to the referendum within the Leave camp as to whether to go for a "soft Brexit" (close regulatory alignment) or "hard Brexit" (what the final deal ended up being).

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

#278
post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The EU has benefits obviously but it's been failing Europe in critical ways for about 20 yeas now I like those benefits: The shared currency, easy travel, they killed roaming fees! Also they're the only ones seriously taking on big tech. They made Apple ditch their dumb ass lightning cable.

[flagged]

"Another problem is border fascism. Europe has open borders internally, but very closed borders externally. The external borders are being militarized and increasingly hostile towards immigrants and asylum seekers. European politicians are showing increasingly fascistic behavior towards the borders. It is bad, and inhumane, and it is braking Europe apart."

What planet are you living on? Border fascism? What?

70,000 'migrants' crossed into Cueta a short while back and the place is in turmoil now.

"European politicians are showing increasingly fascistic behavior towards the borders"

Where do people like you come from? I'm always interested in this utterly surreal take on enforcing the border of your own country, like that's now fascist. What's going on here?

There's not many positions that leave me utterly perplexed. I'm sincerely asking, how you hold your position on this? What have you experienced in life to end up with these opinions? What benefit is flooding Europe with literally anyone from all the backward cultured shit holes from around the world?

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

#279
post #67

It seems odd to hold a referendum on holding talks. Why not just negotiate an agreement and then hold a referendum on that agreement?

Parliament does not really have a majority vote for continuing talks. But one of the government parties made it one of their election issues so they want to find out if there is a majority support among voters.

Great, this is an actual answer and makes sense. I mean it's a little silly but 100% makes sense

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

#280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Iceland has all the worst parts of EU (the unhindered neo-liberalism and border fascism) anyway.

> border fascism I hope you keep to your principles and make sure not to lock your doors at night, and don't deny anyone the right to live in your house with you for free if they desire.

"Advocating open national borders means you must let random strangers live in your house" a truly reasonable and not at all disingenuous argument. On par with "advocating socialism means you must let random strangers use your toothbrush".
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