European Union Delegation to Iceland The Enlargement Policy of the European Union and the Accession Process of Iceland Timo Summa 23 March 2010 Institute of International Affairs – Centre for Small States Studies University of Iceland

Enlargements 1952 1973 1952 1973 1981 1986 1981 1986 1990 1995 2004 2007 1990 1995 2004 2007 2

Candidate countries and potential candidate countries 3

The Opinion What is the Opinion? European Commission’s analysis on Iceland’s preparedness to open accession negotiations with the EU Commission recommended opening negotiations on 24 February 2010 Identifies challenges for Iceland 4

What needs to be done before EU accession? The Opinion What needs to be done before EU accession? Legislation in certain areas need to be aligned with the EU acquis Structures and administrative capacity need to be built up and strengthened 5

The Opinion Accession negotiations are divided into 33 areas  negotiating chapters Not covered by EEA (12): Agriculture and rural development Fisheries Taxation Economic and monetary policy Regional and coordination of structural instruments Judiciary & fundamental rights Justice, freedom and security Customs union External relations Foreign, security and defence policy Financial control 33. Financial & budgetary provisions Covered by EEA (10): 1. Free movement of goods 2. Freedom of movement for workers 3. Right of establishment and freedom to provide services 4. Free movement of capital 5. Public procurement 6. Company law 7. Intellectual property law 8. Competition 9. Financial services 10. Information society and media Partially covered by EEA (11): Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy Transport policy Energy Statistics Social policy and employment Enterprise and industrial policy Trans-European networks Research and development Eductiation and culture Environment Consumer and helath protection 6

Free movement of capital: The Opinion Free movement of capital: Remove restrictions on capital outflows Aline restrictions on foreign investment and foreign ownership 7

Agriculture and rural development: The Opinion Agriculture and rural development: Align support measures with EU competition and state aid rules (decoupling) Improve agricultural statistics Set up basic instruments and institutions for managing the common agriculture policy (paying agency, IACS) Develop rural development policy 8

Fisheries: Align to the EU common fisheries policy instruments The Opinion Fisheries: Align to the EU common fisheries policy instruments Set up implementing control and support measures Accept principles of access to waters Align restrictions on access to ports Align restrictions on right of establishment and freedom to provide services and free movement of capital in the fisheries production and processing sectors 9

Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments: The Opinion Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments: Adjust budget law to allow transfer of national co-financing budgets between EU programmes, funds and years Strengthen programming, coordination and integration of policies Establish institutional structures for programming 10

Environment: Comply with the nature protection acquis: The Opinion Environment: Comply with the nature protection acquis: protection of whales, seals, wild birds conservation of wild habitats and wild fauna and flora 11

What are the next steps? Accession process European Council decides to open negotiations Council adopts negotiating framework + first Accession Conference Screening Accession negotiations Conclusion of negotiations Accession Treaty European Parliament assent Signature of Accession Treaty Ratification by EU Member States and Iceland EU accession 12

Accession negotiations Once Member States agree to open a negotiating chapter: Iceland sends its negotiating position Draft Common Position (DCP) – drafted by Commission  EU Common Position once agreed amongst Member States (EUCP) Formal opening of negotiations in Accession Conference (EU – Iceland) 13

Last steps towards membership Once all chapters have been provisionally closed  accession negotiations can be closed! Accession Treaty Drafted in parallel with last parts of negotiations European Parliament assent Signature of the Accession Treaty Ratification process 14

Monitoring of progress Continuously as of this autumn  Progress Report 2010 Reports also after conclusion of accession negotiations COM drafts such reports  submitted to Council Enlargement group for information and discussion 15

Challenges: Information, facts Analysis, arguments, pros & cons European Union Delegation to Iceland Challenges: Information, facts Analysis, arguments, pros & cons Communication, debate Realism Open mind &creativity 16

? Question Time European Union Delegation to Iceland http://www.esb.is/ http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/index.htm 17