WIREDGOV

MEPs took note on Thursday of Iceland’s decision to put the EU accession talks process on hold and not to wait until they end before holding an EU accession referendum. They now await its further decisions on how to proceed.

"We would of course have preferred the Icelandic government to finish the negotiations before holding a referendum on accession to the EU", said rapporteur on Iceland Cristian Preda (EPP, RO). "The longer Iceland takes to decide whether to pursue negotiations, the more difficult it will be to continue the process from where it was frozen, as EU legislation is constantly evolving," he added.

Parliament stressed that the EU remains fully committed to continuing and completing the accession process and offered to help the Icelandic Parliament, the Althingi, to prepare its assessment of the accession talks.

The resolution was passed by a show of hands.