MOSCOW, March 11 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- Iceland could become a member of the European Union within a year and a half, Icelandic Foreign Minister Porgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir said, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.
She told Politico that Iceland could complete negotiations on joining the EU within "a year and a half" and become its 28th member state.
Iceland is a member of the European Economic Area and part of the Schengen Area, so many EU laws already apply within its territory.
The conclusion of negotiations "would be rather a quick process" if Icelanders vote in favour of it in a referendum scheduled for August 29, Porgerdur said.
Iceland applied for EU membership in 2009 amid the financial crisis, but froze negotiations in 2013 after disagreements over fisheries policy and other economic issues.
--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
