Brussels, 30/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 30 March during the conference on Iceland's membership of the EU, two new chapters in talks for Iceland's accession - on consumer protection and health (chapter 28) and foreign, security and defence policy (chapter 31) - were opened and provisionally closed again. It was underlined at the conference that, given the high rate of preparation on Iceland's part and its respect of obligations relating to acquis in these two chapters, the EU considers that, at this stage, these chapters do not require further discussion. The EU will nonetheless pay special attention to following up a number of specific issues, including Iceland's administrative capacity.
Two other chapters on competition policy (8) and energy (15) were also opened. The conference stated that the country must make progress in the alignment and implementation of acquis in these chapters, in order for them to be considered closed. At the level of competition policy, Iceland must continue to demonstrate a satisfactory level of application in the field of antitrust, merger control and state aid. With regards energy, Reykjavik must present an “action plan to align its legislation on minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products with the acquis. Iceland presents a timetable to conform with the provisions of Directive 2009/72/EC as regards the ownership of its Transmission System Operator” for energy and another “more detailed timetable to implement the nuclear safety and radiation protection acquis”.
Out of the 35 chapters for negotiation with Iceland, 15 have been opened and 10 of these have been provisionally closed up again. A new conference on accession at ministerial level is scheduled for June. (CG/transl.jl)