Press Release: Commission welcomes European Council’s decision to open accession negotiations with Iceland

A decisive step in Iceland's bid to join the EU was taken on 17 June 2010 with the decision by the European Council to open accession negotiations with the country, which applied for EU membership in July 2009. The Council's decision follows the European Commission's Opinion of February 2010 recommending the opening of accession negotiations. On the basis of the Commission opinion, EU Member States concluded unanimously that Iceland meets the political criteria for membership but that it will have to address existing obligations under the EEA, and areas of weakness, including financial services, during accession negotiations.