Brussels, 22/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - Three new chapters were opened on Friday 22 June during the Accession Conference with Iceland, but the hardest part to negotiate will be on fisheries. The chapters open relate to transport policy, social policy and employment, and financial control. During the last accession conference, four chapters were opened (see EUROPE 10586).
Danish European Affairs Minister Nicolai Wammen said that, since membership talks began with Iceland, half of the chapters have been opened, and one third have been provisionally closed. In his view, that is “an exceptional and impressive result” which will be a good basis on which the forthcoming Cypriot Presidency will resume work in July. He said he hoped they would be able to keep up the pace of talks although more difficult issues lie ahead. Wammen underlined: “We are keeping to this approach based on merit, which is central. One cannot doubt the fact that Iceland should meet the same criteria as the other candidate countries”.
“One year after the first chapters were opened, the results are impressive. Eighteen chapters have been opened, with ten provisionally closed”, European Commissioner Stefan Füle was pleased to point out. Never have talks advanced as quickly as this since 2006 (the date for renewed consensus on enlargement). “I am pleased that Iceland has moved forward so fast towards EU membership, although accession is demanding when it comes to procedures”, Füle said. Talks are entering a phase in which many challenges are to be faced, the commissioner concluded, nonetheless saying he was confident that it will be possible to raise those challenges and move towards the common objective.
Ossur Skarphédinsson, Iceland's Foreign Minister, said that fishing is very important for Iceland. “With the EU's good understanding, I think we shall manage to reach an agreement”, he said with confidence. When asked about fisheries, he said: “We must enter negotiations, deal with problems and from all that we shall reach an agreement that Iceland will comply with. We are ready to present our negotiation positions”. The Iceland minister concluded: “The EU has always been determined to find tailor-made solutions taking into account the specific interests of candidate states, without trampling on the basic principles that are dear to those states. I expect creative solutions. We are different from Norway, which twice said no to the EU”.
Iceland and the EU are at loggerheads over the management of certain fishing quotas, such as those for mackerel, which have been poisoning relations between coastal countries of the North Sea for over two years. Whale hunting, which is banned by the EU and practised by Iceland, also poses a problem.
On the transport chapter, now open, an agreement must still be found on Iceland's requests for adaptations to the acquis concerning common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services, the operation of air services, and in the field of civil aviation security. Also, Iceland needs to provide further information to seal agreements in the field of air and road transport. Finally, Iceland must bring its legislation into line with the Single European Sky II acquis.
In the social area, Iceland will have to further align its legislation in the field of anti-discrimination. (LC/transl.jl)