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🇮🇸 Iceland /Elections & Politics

Finnish expert advises Iceland on serious EU accession talks

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • An expert advised Iceland to be well-prepared and negotiate seriously if it pursues EU membership talks.
  • Finland's experience with EU accession negotiations, particularly in agriculture, was presented as a case study.
  • The expert stressed the complexity of EU legislation and the need for broad participation in negotiations.

Esa Härmälä, a Finnish expert on agriculture and European affairs, urged Iceland to be thoroughly prepared and negotiate in earnest should it decide to resume talks on joining the European Union. "If your country does not negotiate seriously, the EU will not take its flexibility options seriously, it's that simple," Härmälä stated at a seminar hosted by the Farmers' Association of Iceland.

If you decide to negotiate, then be well prepared and negotiate seriously. If your country does not negotiate seriously, the EU will not take its flexibility options seriously, it's that simple.

— Esa HärmäläEsa Härmälä's closing remarks to Icelanders regarding EU accession negotiations.

Härmälä, who played a key role in Finland's EU accession negotiations, particularly concerning agriculture, shared insights from his country's experience. He noted that Finland's agricultural sector faced significant challenges during the accession process. "From the beginning, it seemed impossible to find a positive solution for agriculture. It was clear that Finland was not applying for membership because of agriculture and its interests, but despite them," he said.

From the beginning, it seemed impossible to find a positive solution for agriculture. It was clear that Finland was not applying for membership because of agriculture and its interests, but despite them.

— Esa HärmäläDescribing the difficult situation of Finnish agriculture during the EU accession process.

He emphasized the extensive preparation required, detailing how the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture had to navigate over 30,000 pages of EU legislation, much of which was initially only available in French. Härmälä also highlighted the importance of involving all stakeholders, including those initially opposed to membership, in the negotiation process to unify efforts and resources.

It was necessary to go through 30,000 pages of EU agricultural legislation. Large parts of it were at that time even only in French.

— Esa HärmäläHighlighting the extensive nature of EU legislation that needed to be reviewed.

The Finnish expert cautioned that negotiations with the EU are not between equals. He recalled instances where Finnish negotiators were reminded of their applicant status. Härmälä also pointed out that compromises reached with the European Commission could be rejected by member states. Ultimately, he noted, agriculture was one of the most difficult issues in Finland's accession talks, with an agreement only reached late in 1994, resulting in measures like the "Nordic support" for specific regions.

Listen, is it really so that you think the European Union wants to join Iceland?

— Esa HärmäläRecounting a potential response from EU officials to remind applicants of their status.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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