After a lengthy debate parliamentarians in Iceland have paved the way for accession talks with the European Union. Iceland's government plans to launch its EU membership bid in Brussels before the end of this month. The Icelandic parliament, the Althingi, gave the green light for the government to bid for membership in the European Union, with 33 of the nation's 63 parliamentarians voting in favor of the proposal. A total of 32 votes were required to pass the proposal, but opposition to the move was limited to 28 lawmakers, while another two abstained. Thursday's narrow victory came as a relief to crisis-stricken Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, who hopes to stabilize Iceland's economy by joining the 27-member bloc. In the end, however, it will be the citizens of Iceland who will have the final word on whether the government pursues membership. If and when Iceland completes successful accession negotiations with the European Union, the question will then be put to the people in a referendum.
The Icelandic parliament, the Althingi, gave the green light for the government to bid for membership in the European Union, with 33 of the nation's 63 parliamentarians voting in favor of the proposal.
A total of 32 votes were required to pass the proposal, but opposition to the move was limited to 28 lawmakers, while another two abstained.
Thursday's narrow victory came as a relief to crisis-stricken Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, who hopes to stabilize Iceland's economy by joining the 27-member bloc.
In the end, however, it will be the citizens of Iceland who will have the final word on whether the government pursues membership. If and when Iceland completes successful accession negotiations with the European Union, the question will then be put to the people in a referendum.
