Struan Stevenson, MEP, in The Independent writes: "Iceland's application to join the EU should be welcomed (report, 16 July). Iceland already fulfils most of the community's membership criteria, and its application should be fast-tracked.
"Had it not been for its lucrative fishing industry, Iceland would have joined the EU long ago. It needs only look to Scotland to see how the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has destroyed fish stocks and laid waste to great swathes of our coastal communities.(…)
"Wary of opening their rich fishing grounds to Europe's fleets, Iceland's politicians are calling for a special deal, hoping compromise can be found that will exempt Iceland's fishing sector from the CFP. I can assure Iceland that many of us in Brussels will follow negotiations with great interest, because any concessions given to Iceland will also be demanded for Scotland and the rest of the UK.
"In this respect Iceland can act as a trailblazer. If Iceland joins the EU without having to sign up to the CFP, then the UK can surely make a case for opting out of the CFP too?"
