Two MPs abstained in what was a close vote
Parliament in Iceland has voted by a narrow majority to set in motion an application to join the European Union, after five days of gruelling debate. Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir of the Social Democrats has also been pushing for the adoption of the euro as the Nordic country's currency. The bid must now be approved by the EU, after which Iceland's people will be asked to vote on it in a referendum. Ms Sigurdardottir said that several years of negotiations lay ahead. The main benefits of EU membership at the moment would be the possibility of joining the exchange rate mechanism, and eventually adopting the euro
Gylfi Magnusson
Icelandic business minister EU commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed the vote, saying Iceland was a "European country with long and deep democratic roots". Opponents of the bid fear EU quotas could hurt Iceland's fishing industry. Correspondents say Iceland, with a population of just 320,000, has traditionally been sceptical about joining the EU. But many people there have warmed to the idea of membership following the devastating economic meltdown which saw the top Icelandic banks collapse in a matter of days last year.
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More from BBC World Service The government will formally submit Iceland's bid to the EU in Brussels on 27 July, at a meeting of its foreign ministers. Arni Thor Sigurdsson, chairman of the parliamentary committee handling EU issues, told Reuters news agency that Iceland would not be ready to join the EU any earlier than 2013. Financial woes Members of the 63-seat Althingi, Iceland's parliament, backed the proposal to start membership talks with the EU by 33 votes to 28, with two abstentions. ICELAND'S EU BID 16 July: Parliament backs bid by slim majority 27 July: Bid due to be submitted to Brussels February 2010: Entry talks may begin Late 2011/early 2012: Bid goes to popular referendum 2013: Earliest date Iceland can realistically join Source: Arni Thor Sigurdsson, chairman of parliamentary committee on EU issues, quoted by Reuters Five members of the Left Green party, the Social Democrats' partner in the coalition government, rejected it, AFP news agency reports. The Social Democrats and the Left Greens formed a government at the end of April following a general election. Interviewed by Reuters, Prime Minister Sigurdardottir said that Thursday's outcome was "probably the most historic vote in the history of [Iceland's] parliament". "I sincerely hope and believe that we will end up with an agreement that will help us create the necessary economic stability, ensure prosperity in the long term for both families and businesses," she said. 'Tensions ahead' Mr Barroso said the Icelandic vote was proof of the "vitality of the European project and indicative of the hope that Europe represents". Despite the outcome of the vote in parliament, I doubt very much that the general population will approve of Iceland joining the EU
BBC News website reader Thorunn Sleight, from Reykjavik, Iceland
Readers debate Iceland's EU bid Iceland's Business Minister, Gylfi Magnusson, believes that euro zone membership would help stabilise the country's currency. "The main benefits of EU membership at the moment would be the possibility of joining the exchange rate mechanism, and eventually adopting the euro," he told the BBC before the parliamentary vote. Michael Emerson, a political analyst at the Centre for European Policy Studies, warned that Icelandic entry was not a done deal. "It remains to be seen whether some issues like fish will prove difficult negotiation points," he said. "And then we will have to see if the Icelandic people still like the idea. A 'Yes' should not be taken for granted. There'll be tensions."
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La Unión Europea e Islandia



Islandia ha solicitado a la presidencia de la Unión Europea ingresar a la Unión. La solicitud, hecha el viernes, tuvo lugar tras una votación en el parlamento islandés (Alþingi) con 33 votos a favor, 28 en contra y 2 absenciones. El proyecto había sido presentado por la Alianza Socialddemócrata.

La solicitud cumplimenta la promesa hecha por la Primera Ministra islandesa, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, quien prometió unirse la UE durante las elecciones del pasado abril. Si la aplicación es aceptada (un proceso que involucra evaluar, entre varios aspectos, si Islandia cumple con los Criterios de Copenhague), los ciudadanos islandeses votarán en un referéndum si aceptan unirse.

El país nórdico ya es parte del Área Económica Europea, y había firmado tratados de libre comercio con la Comunidad Económica Europea antes de que fuera creada la AEE en 1994. De acuerdo a Gylfi Magnússon, el Ministro de Negocios islandés, los principales beneficios de unirse a la UE será ingresar en el Mecanismo de Tipos de Cambio europeo y poder utilizar el euro como divisa. Asimismo, Islandia podría lograr una exención de las provisiones pactadas en el Tratado de Maastricht, que requieren que se espere al menos dos años antes de poder adoptar el euro.

No obstante, la poca mayoría alcanzada en la votación del Alþingi deja como conclusión que existen dos opiniones dividas dentro de Islandia. Los islandeses consideran que podrían perder cierta independencia, y que no se les otorgaría una voz en la UE puesto que su población es de tan sólo 320.000 habitantes.

La votación en el parlamento islandés también dio a relucir una escisión de las alianzas políticas. Cinco miembros del Movimiento de Izquierda-Verde, que actualmente es parte del gobierno de coalición con la Alianza Socialdemócrata, votaron en contra del proyecto.

Otros aspectos que podrían demorar el progreso de la solicitud son los temas relativos a la caza de ballenas en Islandia, junto con otros temas pesqueros y agrícolas en general. El 39% de las exportaciones del país provienen de la industria pesquera, y Einar Mar Thordarson, un politólogo de la Universidad de Islandia, predice que la parte más difícil de sobrellevar durante las negociaciones entre Islandia y la UE será sobre la Política Pesquera Común.

Si la solicitud es aceptada tanto por la UE como por los islandeses, Islandia no podría unirse plenamente hasta dentro de varios años. Arni Thor Sigurdsson, presidente del comité del Alþingi para relaciones con la UE, declaró que Islandia no sería un estado miembro de la UE hasta 2013, como mínimo.