Iceland’s bid for European Union membership came closer Tuesday, formally beginning accession negotiations with the EU in Brussels.
“For Iceland, it [accession] will mean economic and monetary stability and a voice at the EU decision making table. For the EU, it [accession] will mean we become stronger in dealing with the Arctic region and in areas such as renewable energy and climate change,” said Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Commissioner Stefan Füle, according to an EU press release.
The EU has provided Iceland with a negotiating framework, which outlines procedures for the negotiations and specific areas Iceland needs to give special attention. These areas are fisheries, agriculture and rural development, environment, free movement of capital, and financial services, according to the release.
Iceland will go through an in-depth screening process that is expected to last from November of this year until the middle of 2011.
Iceland is country number three, along with Croatia and Turkey, currently in accession negotiations for EU membership.
“For Iceland, it [accession] will mean economic and monetary stability and a voice at the EU decision making table. For the EU, it [accession] will mean we become stronger in dealing with the Arctic region and in areas such as renewable energy and climate change,” said Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Commissioner Stefan Füle, according to an EU press release.
The EU has provided Iceland with a negotiating framework, which outlines procedures for the negotiations and specific areas Iceland needs to give special attention. These areas are fisheries, agriculture and rural development, environment, free movement of capital, and financial services, according to the release.
Iceland will go through an in-depth screening process that is expected to last from November of this year until the middle of 2011.
Iceland is country number three, along with Croatia and Turkey, currently in accession negotiations for EU membership.
