Brussels, 07/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 7 July, the European Parliament gave its support to opening accession negotiations with Iceland - MEPs therefore support the decision of the European Council of 17 June - affirming that the country's accession “can serve both the interests of the island itself and those of the Union”. In a resolution drafted by Cristian Dan Preda (EPP, Romania) and adopted by a show of hands, the EP also asserts that the dispute regarding the reimbursement of British and Dutch savers, who fell victim to the Icesave bankruptcy, should be resolved “bilaterally”. The EP is also insisting that Iceland puts a halt to whale hunting and that it withdraws all its reservations issued to the International Whaling Commission. The EP recognises that Iceland manages its own marine resources in a responsible and sustainable way and counts on a “constructive attitude by both the Union and the Icelandic authorities” during negotiations on the integration of the country into the common European fisheries policy. Public opinion in Iceland is becoming increasingly sceptical about future accession to the EU and the EP is encouraging Reykjavik to launch a public debate to respond to the country's concerns about the EU.
Debate. Speaking on the behalf of the Belgian Presidency, the foreign affairs minister, Steven Vanackere, stressed that although Iceland has made significant progress towards achieving the acquis, the country would be treated like all the other candidates, namely, on the basis of its own merits. Once the negotiating framework is adopted by the Council - undoubtedly by the time of the General Affairs Council on 26 July - the Commission would proceed to screening the Icelandic legislation, before the negotiations really begin. How long will these negotiations go on for? The fact that Iceland is already part of the European Economic Area and the Schengen Area and that it benefits from pre-accession aid will help facilitate things but Vanackere does not believe it opportune for the Council to already set up an “artificial” timetable. He pointed out that negotiations would probably be a little less easy in the fisheries and whale hunting arenas. Commissioner Stefan Füle indicated that the first negotiating meeting (intergovernmental conference) with Iceland is expected to take place on 27 July, the day after the adoption of the negotiation framework. The Commission will provide Iceland with all the technical aid necessary during the course of the negotiations and, during the screening chapter by chapter (an exercise that is not expected to be finished until the second half of 2011). It will also work towards a swift opening of the most sensitive chapters, in an effort to allow Iceland the time to fulfil the necessary criteria. Despite a few doubts concerning the legal authorities, Iceland is a democracy, acknowledged rapporteur Cristian Dan Preda. At an economic level, the country fulfils the Copenhagen criteria and is expected to be encouraged to join the eurozone as soon as possible. Speaking on behalf of the S&D Group, David-Maria Sassoli from Italy said that progress was indispensable in certain areas, particularly with regard to the appointment of magistrates. He also said that Iceland should not invoke scientific pretexts for justifying whale hunting, when it is motivated by commercial reasons. The Icelandic parliament is the oldest on our continent, added Johannes van Baalen from the ALDE Group (the Netherlands). Charles Tannock (ECR, United Kingdom) said that absorbing Iceland into the EU would be easy and that they had nothing to fear about huge waves of migration. In his opinion, it would be entirely different in this respect with regard to Turkey. Europe should not become a propaganda machine, protested Soren Sondergaard from the GUE/ Nordic Left (Denmark) - accession does not just mean advantages for Iceland, he said, this should be made quite clear. Timo Soini (EFD, Finland) asked whether they really had to negotiate with Iceland when 70% of its population was against accession. He urged the Icelandic people not to be swayed and to decide for themselves. He added that they live in a rich and independent country, like the Norwegians (while adding that he was not complaining about the accession of his own country to the Union). Others were more extreme - Nick Griffin from the British National Party said that the country should not allow its fish stocks to be destroyed by the Union, whilst Nigel Farage from UKIP said that he was envious of the country and that the “lucky old Icelanders should think before they jump”. (H.B./L.G./transl.fl)