Icelandic politician urges government to 'look in the mirror' on EU talks

The Icelandic government must 'look in the mirror' rather than merely 'look in the package' regarding its approach to European Union accession talks, according to lawyer and former MP Sigríður María Egilsdóttir. Speaking at a rally, Egilsdóttir expressed her opposition to continuing membership negotiations, a stance that surprised her given her previous positive views on the EU.

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The government does not need to 'look in the package.' The government needs to look in the mirror.

Egilsdóttir criticized the government's handling of the process, stating it has failed to earn the nation's trust. She argued that seeking a mandate for what she called 'one of the most important negotiation rounds in Iceland's history' requires demonstrating honesty and presenting all relevant information, including the uncomfortable facts, to the public.

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When seeking such a mandate, you must above all earn the trust of the nation. To demonstrate that you are an honest representative of the nation. A representative who lays the documents on the table, even the uncomfortable ones.

She accused the government of deliberately minimizing its communication and delaying substantive debate on the EU. Egilsdóttir highlighted that EU membership would bring irreversible changes, including the supremacy of European Court of Justice rulings over Icelandic law and the automatic adoption of EU regulations without parliamentary approval. Iceland would also be negotiating with the EU's top team, while the government's delegation is armed with slogans and vague promises.

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Brussels is not the answer to fatigue. Brussels is just more. If you are unhappy with politicians, the solution is not more politicians. If you are unhappy with the system, the solution is not more system.

Egilsdóttir further contended that the EU is not a solution to public fatigue with politicians or existing systems. Instead, she urged Icelanders to make demands and start change domestically. She concluded by stating that if the government sees people in the mirror who are not up to the task, they should resign their mandate, not the country.

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The government needs to look in the mirror and if it sees people in the mirror who have not chosen the task, it needs to return the mandate, not the country.