Written answers

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

Department of Foreign Affairs

EU Enlargement

9:00 pm

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on accession discussions being held between Iceland and European Union. [32070/09]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Iceland formally submitted its application for membership of the European Union to the Swedish Presidency on 17 July 2009. The General Affairs Council in July agreed to refer it to the European Commission for its opinion (avis), in accordance with established procedures. Given that its application is currently under consideration with the European Commission, no formal accession discussions are being held between Iceland and the European Union at this time.

If the Commission returns a positive opinion on Iceland's state of preparedness, as would be expected, the Council would then consider whether to open accession negotiations on the 35 chapters of EU law. Accession negotiations are a complex and open-ended process, and the outcome – as in any negotiation – cannot be predetermined.

In our bilateral contacts, we have told the Government of Iceland that we are supportive of their desire to join the European Union.

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