1. 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

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

3. Candidate countries and potential candidate countries3

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. ? Question Time European Union Delegation to Iceland 17