Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 109: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will indicate his position for membership of the EU by Iceland. [13336/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Iceland applied for membership of the EU in July 2009. On 24 February, the Commission delivered a largely positive opinion (avis) on Iceland's readiness to begin accession negotiations. The avis recommends that a date should be set for commencement of talks. The Council of Ministers should now consider the Commission's recommendation and I look forward to its inclusion on a forthcoming agenda.

Ireland supports the Commission's recommendation to open accession negotiations with Iceland. It is a country with which we have strong ties of geography, history, culture and politics. Iceland is already closely integrated with the EU in several areas, through its membership of the European Economic Area and the Schengen area which should ease some of the negotiating process. We would regard Iceland's accession to the EU as a positive development.

Enlargement of the EU is of course a negotiated process and, as in any negotiation, the eventual outcome and timeframe cannot be predicted. Some of the areas to be covered in negotiations will present challenges and we are currently considering our approach to these.