Icelanders need not fear losing sovereignty by joining EU, says Spanish minister

Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has assured Icelanders that joining the European Union would not lead to a loss of sovereignty. Speaking at a meeting at the Nordic House in Reykjavík, Albares drew parallels between Iceland's current EU accession discussions and Spain's experience 40 years ago.

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In the world today, sovereignty is at stake, though not due to the aggressiveness of the European Union. By joining the European Union, the sovereignty of countries actually increases because they finally get a seat at the table.

Albares argued that EU membership has historically benefited member states, citing Spain's own development and infrastructure improvements as examples. He asserted that in today's world, national sovereignty is often at risk, but joining the EU actually enhances it by giving countries a seat at the table. He stressed that the EU does not force countries into unfavorable situations.

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Why are we doing this now? The answer is simply that we are safeguarding and ensuring the best possible interests for Iceland.

Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir echoed these sentiments, explaining that Iceland is revisiting the EU discussion to best secure its national interests. She believes that in an era of increasing global instability, Iceland's interests are better served within the EU.

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It is my sincere belief that in today's world, where instability has been growing, Iceland's interests are better served within the union than outside it and that we will get a good deal for accession.

Discussions also touched upon fisheries, a sensitive issue for Iceland. Albares views Iceland as a partner rather than a competitor in this sector. Gunnarsdóttir added that Iceland possesses significant expertise in fisheries, comparable to Germany's role in automotive manufacturing, and that the EU could learn from Iceland's approach to fisheries management.

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The world order is changing rapidly and José's visit to Iceland is an important reminder that democratic countries like Iceland and Spain stand together in a world where instability is growing.