Brussels, 24/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 24 October, the accession conference with Iceland decided to open three additional negotiating chapters on financial services (chapter 9), statistics (18) and customs union (29). Out of the 35 negotiating chapters, 21 have thus now been opened - ten of which have been provisionally closed.
In order to close the financial services chapter, Iceland must move forward in its implementation and application of prudential supervision in line with the existing EU acquis; transpose the directive on deposit-guarantee schemes; and make progress towards transposition of the “Omnibus I” directive on the new financial supervisory authorities. Reykjavik must also make progress on its obligations at the level of the European Economic Area (EEA)
With regard to statistics, Iceland must submit to the Commission various types of accounts according to the demands of the European System of Accounts (ESA 95) transmission programmes.
Lastly, with regard to customs union, Reykjavik must submit to the Commission a detailed timetable and action plan on legislative alignment with the acquis and demonstrate tangible progress in its alignment effort and in its administrative capacity. Iceland must present a comprehensive and coherent strategy towards IT interconnectivity and demonstrate sufficient progress in developing all the related IT interconnectivity systems. The EU also recalled that it considered it necessary to include provisions on customs in the Accession Treaty with Iceland.
A further conference will take place in December at ministerial level. The accession negotiations were launched in July 2010. (CG/transl.fl)