Brussels, 21/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle has underlined that Iceland's membership negotiations will lead to results that are beneficial not only for Iceland but also for the EU. “The aim of the membership process is to have a stronger Iceland in a stronger EU”, he said during his first visit to the island, on 19 and 20 October.
The commissioner said talks had got off to a good start and spoke of the excellent level of cooperation with Iceland partners. He explained that, after a good start, things are progressing well. Explaining that four out of the six chapters already opened have been provisionally closed, he said that “we are entering a more demanding phase. The European Commission will do its best to support Iceland in its ambition to open and negotiate other chapters”. He was confident that solutions could be found to the chapters that present a challenge, such as fisheries and agriculture. “We are determined to find answers on how to adapt Iceland's national specificities while safeguarding the EU's rules and principles so that we may all, EU and Iceland, finally benefit from it”, he explained. Füle went on to add that the negotiating process should focus on difficult issues but also on accession opportunities. (CG/transl.jl)