in the meantime , she said , the act of applying for european parliament membership could restore better confidence in iceland abroad , helping to speed economic recovery . commentators in iceland have given high rates to ms . sigurdardottir ' s results in her 80 days in office , and in the electoral campaign , saying she has steadied the state ' s sagging self - confidence in the event of the banco disaster and turbulent january street protesters , the first political action in iceland , activism over the country ' s decision to joins nato in 1949 .
NATO was founded in 1949.