A look at the pros and cons of possible Icelandic membership to the European Union against the backdrop of accession talks.

Will Iceland join the EU?

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/16221733/n001-130220-001-en.srt

Iceland is a candidate for EU membership.

Already heavily integrated with the EU,  being a party to the EEA,

accession would seem the next likely step.

One of the most successful processes  in EU history has been enlargement.

Iceland can also become a big contributor to  the sustainable management of resources.

With public and political sentiment weighing  against membership, is it a real possibility?

I'm not so sure, not for a while at least.  Maybe in the Europe 2020 strategy.

And back in Mr Ómarsson's home country,  his sentiment is shared.

As it stands in Iceland, no one  in favour of joining the EU is optimistic

that it will happen because we only  have 12 weeks to elections

and only one party  is arguing for EU membership.

Iceland suffered one of the biggest banking  collapses in 2008 but it's recovering.

Compared to the EU, unemployment  is relatively low at 4 to 5%

and its main industry, fishing, is thriving.

So the question for them  is why join the EU?

Especially when it's going through  its worst crisis.

We need to know how the Common  Fisheries Policy will be. That's not decided.

We need to know what the banking union  will look like - that's not decided -

and see if Europe really  gets out of this crisis.

But back in Brussels,  MEPs are more optimistic.

On Tuesday the Foreign Affairs Committee  voted for continued accession talks.

I'm convinced that we have lots  to learn from Iceland

and that the integration of Iceland with its  fishing experience will be good for Europe.

Although Iceland has slowed down  accession talks before elections in April,

both sides have agreed to come back  to the table when the time is right.

But for Mr Ómarsson,  when that will be is anyone's guess.

There's a lack of real debate  and a lack of information.

There is no interest to really talk  about EU issues in Iceland.