Sir, – Your editorial today (“Iceland’s vote sends a message to Brussels”, August 31st) covers well the outcome of the recent referendum in Iceland. The No vote though has unsurprisingly been jumped upon by Brexiteers, especially in trying to justify again the decision of the UK to exit the EU. And perhaps it will be used also by some anti-EU quarters in Ireland in the coming weeks.
However, as your editorial points out, Iceland is a member of Nato, Ireland is not, and hence they probably saw this as sufficient protection against any US attempts to usurp by force part of its sovereignty. And as a result, did not consider the latter as decisive a consideration as some might have expected.
Iceland also has access to the EU single market via its membership of the European Economic Area. Not being an EU member state, though, means it must abide, and continue to abide, by all rules applying there, to which they had/have no input.
In other words they are rule takers, not rule makers. This, of course, is anathema to Brexiteers.
Besides, Iceland has become one of the richest countries in Europe, with fish accounting for about 40 per cent of its exports. It was always going to be difficult then to win a vote to begin discussions on changing current arrangements, which could in time significantly impact these exports.
In other words, Iceland is a very special case, and hence it would be foolish to draw hasty conclusions from this referendum result. – Yours, etc,
JOHN O’HAGAN,
Department of economics,
Trinity College Dublin.
Sir, – It’s interesting to note that the majority vote of the Icelandic population not to reopen talks for European Union membership is being described as the “democratic will” of the people.
Contrast this with the vitriol poured on those who voted for Brexit. Nowt so odd as folk. – Yours, etc,
AILEEN HOOPER,
Stoneybatter,
Dublin 7.