Jetten Denies Promises of Exemptions to Iceland

The Dutch government has denied that Iceland was ever offered any special treatment or permanent exemptions concerning the European Union's common fisheries policy during potential accession talks. This clarification comes directly from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to recent remarks by Iceland's Foreign Minister, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir.

Gunnarsdóttir had stated in an interview that a news report about Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten confirming the common fisheries policy as an unshakeable part of EU membership was not in line with her conversations with him or other EU colleagues. She did not, however, provide further details to substantiate her claim.

The Dutch ministry's response directly refutes any suggestion that assurances of exemptions were made. Their statement asserts that Dutch ministers or officials never indicated to Icelandic authorities that Iceland could receive exemptions or special solutions regarding the EU's fisheries policy in the context of membership negotiations.

This exchange highlights potential discrepancies in communication or interpretation between the two nations regarding the sensitive issue of fisheries policy within the framework of Iceland's EU aspirations. The Dutch stance reinforces the EU's established policy on fisheries, suggesting no deviation was offered to Iceland.