Joao Rei's random thoughts

The European Parliament is not happy with Olli Rehn’s words about the possibility of Iceland joining the EU.

A public war of words is developing over the possible entry of Iceland into the European Union, as EU commissionerOlli Rehn has gone against the wishes of European parliament president Hans-Gert Pottering and insisted the tiny Nordic nation will soon become a member.

Pottering called Rehn’s statement to The Guardian that Iceland would become an EU member by 2011 “bad timing” that could not only jeopardize the application process but the controversial Lisbon Treaty as well.

Rehn, who is in charge of EU expansion, told Finnish paper Helsinki Sanomat that he was merely commenting on issues that part of his job. “All European nations that meet the requirements of democracy and legislation and executes them in reality, can apply to be a member of the EU. Iceland falls under this analysis better than the Balkan nations for instance,” Rehn said.

The issue of European Union membership is one of several options Iceland, knocked unconcious by the worldwide economic meltdown, is considering. The new Red-Green Socialist governement has launched an exploratory committee on the matter and will report its findings on April 15th.

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