Expert criticizes Icelandic committee chair over EU membership discussion

Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson, a historian and expert in international relations, has criticized Pawel Bartoszek, the chairman of Iceland's parliamentary foreign affairs committee, for allegedly evading discussion on the European Union's stance regarding Iceland's potential membership.

Guðmundsson told Morgunblaðið that Bartoszek "tried to avoid discussing how the matter looks from the European Union's perspective." He noted that Bartoszek claimed to be speaking only from the Icelandic government's viewpoint. However, Guðmundsson pointed to existing documents, particularly from previous accession processes, which clearly state that adaptation to the EU's administration and legislation is a prerequisite for closing negotiation chapters.

"This is a condition from their side so that negotiation chapters can be closed," Guðmundsson explained. He suggested that Bartoszek's comments, made in an interview with Morgunblaðið the previous day, downplayed the significance of these EU requirements.

The expert's remarks highlight a potential divergence in how Iceland's political figures are framing the ongoing discussion about EU relations and the conditions for any future accession.

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Fram kemur enda skýrt í gögnum þess, þar á meðal í tengslum við umsóknarferlið þegar það var í gangi síðast, að gerð er krafa um aðlögun að stjórnsýslu og löggjöf sambandsins í viðræðunum. Um væri að ræða skilyrði af hálfu þess svo hægt væri að loka viðræðuköflum.