Brussels, 28/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - Parliamentary procedure with a view to requesting EU membership for Iceland has now been launched. Ossur Skarphedinsson, Iceland's Foreign Minister, submitted a text to parliament on Thursday 28 May calling on members to give their preliminary agreement for a request to join the European Union. The vote is scheduled for the end of June/early July. “This is a historic day. Iceland is at a turning point. Reconstruction of the New Island has already begun”, the Icelandic minister said. “European Union membership and the adoption of single currency will allow the country to attract foreign investment”, he added. The government headed by Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir (Social-Democrat) has undertaken to organise a referendum on the country's accession to the EU but only once accession talks have been held. (H.B./transl.jl)