European cooperation rather than EU integration. Iceland and the European Union
European cooperation rather than EU integration. Iceland and the European Union

Author(s): M. Elvira Mendez-Pinedo
Subject(s): Economy, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, International Law, EU-Legislation
Published by: Societatea de Stiinte Juridice si Administrative
Keywords: Iceland; European Union; integration; European Economic Area; cooperation;
Summary/Abstract: Why some European countries prefer cooperation than integration? In 2019 Iceland celebrated twenty-five years of cooperation with the European Union (EU) under the European Economic Agreement (EEA). Since 1992-1994, this country has preferred international/ regional cooperation rather than full supranational integration. This study summarizes some important dates and facts which explain some of the most important reasons why integration in the EU does not seduce Icelanders. Methodology is both descriptive (informative) and analytical (critical comment). All legal issues are approached from a wider economic, political and sociological context (law in context approach). A provisional finding is that the European legal integration project (and general pooling of sovereignty) will probably never fully convince Iceland for historic, geographic, legal, political and economic reasons. Lacking a history of nation-wars and situated geographically as the ultraperiphery of Europe, for this small nation rich in natural resources and scarce in population; supranational integration is neither a political imperative nor an economic necessity in ordinary circumstances. With the exception of the years 2009-2013, after a major financial crisis when Iceland was a candidate country to the EU....the EEA Agreement and European cooperation are preferable to full EU legal integration unless a situation of national emergency happens again....

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