Brussels, 19/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - The first meeting of the Accession Conference with Iceland at Deputy level, in Brussels on 19 October, decided to open and provisionally close negotiations on Chapter 2 - Freedom of Movement for Workers and Chapter 7 - Intellectual Property Law. “This represents another significant step forward in the accession negotiations”, says the Council in a press release.
Given the high level of Iceland's state of preparedness and its fulfilment of obligations in relation to both chapters, the EU considered that, “exceptionally”, in line with point 32 of the Negotiating Framework, “benchmarks for the provisional closure of these chapters were not required”. Therefore, the EU noted that, at this stage, these chapters do not require further negotiations, though it will be able to return to them if necessary.
The EU also noted that it would devote “particular attention” to monitoring all specific issues mentioned in its common positions, including administrative capacity, particularly in the field of co-ordination of social security systems in the area of Freedom of Movement for Workers, and the effective enforcement of IP rights in the area of Intellectual Property Law. “Monitoring of progress in the alignment with and implementation of the acquis will continue throughout the negotiations”, it stated.
Of the 35 negotiation chapters, 6 have been opened and 4 provisionally closed. A further Accession Conference at ministerial level is planned for December. (CG/transl.rt)