Brussels, 09/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn was in Reykjavik this week, where he gave the Icelandic government the questionnaire which the country must fill in by 16 November, and on the basis of which the Commission will prepare its "opinion" on the membership application made by the country on 23 July. The questionnaire consists of around 2000 questions under 33 different headings and covering the entire acquis communautaire. "Receiving the questionnaire marks a new stage for Iceland on its way to becoming a full member of the EU", said Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir. Iceland's objective is to ensure that the European Council of December accepts the application and grants the country the official status of candidate country. "We must respond before 16 November (...). It is important for us to ensure that the decision on our status as an accession country is taken at a meeting of the European Council of December", stressed Foreign Affairs Minister Ossur Skarphedinsson. For his part, Commissioner Rehn reiterated that Iceland is a long way along the road to integration, but that there will be no "shortcuts". (H.B./transl.fl)