23 March 2010 Institute of International Affairs – Centre for Small States Studies

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

3. Candidate countries and potential candidate countries

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

5. 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

6. The Opinion 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 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 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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 What are the next steps?

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)

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

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

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

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