Press Release: Successful start of Iceland’s membership negotiations with the EU

The first four chapters of negotiations on Iceland's accession to the EU were opened at the intergovernmental conference on 27 June 2011 and two of these chapters have been already provisionally closed.

The EU's common negotiating positions were presented at the conference by the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in response to those of the Icelandic government. The chapters in question cover public procurement, information society and media, science and research, as well as education and culture. In these areas Iceland has already taken on a large part of EU legislation due to its membership in the European Economic Area. Simultaneously, negotiations on two chapters – science and research and education and culture – were provisionally closed in view of Iceland's advanced state of preparedness.

The conference also marks the successful conclusion of the screening process – an in-depth analysis and comparison of the EU's and Iceland's rules and legislation – and the beginning of a new phase in which substance and detail are negotiated.

BBC News, 28.6.11: EU Iceland accession: Tough talks ahead on fisheries http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13940026

Iceland: Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Iceland's application for membership of the EU http://eu.mfa.is/

EurActiv, 28.6.11: Iceland sets record in EU accession talks http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/iceland-sets-record-eu-accession-news-506006

EUObserver, 27.6.11: Iceland: EU membership depends on fishery 'superpowers' http://euobserver.com/9/32555

ESO: Background information: Iceland and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/iceland-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Iceland kick-starts EU accession talks http://www.europeansources.info/record/iceland-kick-starts-eu-accession-talks/

---