A Reykyavik fisherman covers his catch with ice. Icelanders fear losing control of their fisheries on joining the EU

Iceland’s application to join the European Union injects a modest degree of momentum into the enlargement of the 27-nation bloc at a time when it has slowed to a crawl, partly because of waning public enthusiasm.

Of the three countries that are official candidates for membership, Croatia’s entry talks have been deadlocked since December because of a border dispute with Slovenia, Macedonia’s negotiations have not even started and several EU governments are determined to keep Turkey out – whatever its legal status as an applicant.