17/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - While the decision of the Icelandic parliament to authorise the government to begin negotiations on accession to the EU were welcomed by the Commission (see EUROPE 9944) and the Swedish Presidency (President in office of the European Council Fredrik Reinfeldt welcomed the Icelandic vote “with joy”), MEP Markus Ferber (EPP, Germany) has warned against too great euphoria. The Commission must not make “hasty promises” on the future accession of the country, but should seek the opinion of the Council and the European Parliament, he says in a press release issued on 17 July. Ferber directly criticised Commissioner Olli Rehn who, on 16 July, said he was “pleased” at the prospect of enlarging the EU to the north west of Europe. Ferber, whose CDU party regularly criticises EU enlargement policy, says that he is not “in principle” against Iceland's accession, “but the EU and Iceland must first resolve all the urgent issues before making any accession promises”. (H.B./transl.rt)