Brussels, 15/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign affairs ministers reached a “principled agreement” on opening accession negotiations with Iceland, according to an announcement made by the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, Angel Miguel Moratinos, at the end of the General Affairs Council on Monday evening (14 June) in Luxembourg. The official go-ahead for the launch of talks is expected to be given on Thursday 17 June by the European Council. Moratinos explained to the press: “It will be necessary to wait until this is approved by heads of state and government but there is a principled agreement for opening negotiations with Iceland”. The United Kingdom and the Netherlands have agreed, on the condition that the message from the European Council is accompanied by “strong language” on the necessity of Iceland respecting European legislation on banking deposit guarantees and obtaining a satisfactory solution to the compensation problem affecting British and Dutch victims of the IceSave bankruptcy. The European Council is expected to request the Council to prepare the “negotiating framework” for opening accession negotiations very soon but without necessarily providing an exact date. (H.B./transl.fl)