EU expansion
July 23, 2009
Iceland's Foreign Minister Ossur Skarphedinsson presented the Nordic nation's application to his Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt, whose country currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency.
Bildt said having Iceland in the EU would enhance the bloc's "Nordic dimension." He also said that there were "significantly fewer chapters" for the EU and Iceland to negotiate during membership talks.
Iceland is already a member of the European Economic Area and is also a part of the Schengen zone, which allows uninhibited travel across Europe. But there are still several sticking points, including fishing and agriculture policy.
"Many people think it will be very fast negotiations," Skarphedinsson said on Thursday. "I'm not so sure – I think it could be difficult negotiations."
Skarphedinsson said, however, that he believed Iceland would become a member within three years.
If the EU approves Iceland's bid, the final hurdle will be a referendum in which Icelanders have the final decision on whether their country joins the bloc.
A poll earlier this year showed that 60 percent of Icelanders supported EU membership.
Jumping the queue
Many analysts believe that Iceland will be the next country to become a member of the European Union – jumping ahead of Croatia, which had been expected to be the next to join.
Croatia's bid has stalled over a border dispute with Slovenia, which dates back to the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.
Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said on Thursday that she would soon meet with Slovenian Premier Borut Pahor, adding that she expected progress in the dispute in the near future.
"I am full of optimism," Kosor said.
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that, after six months of EU mediation, it was now up to Croatia and Slovenia to find a solution.
Croatia had hoped to wrap up membership negotiations this year and accede next year or in 2011.
Macedonian membership
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said on Thursday that Macedonia could win the backing of the EU Commission and begin membership talks in the next few months, but only if it passed a number of reforms first.
"The Commission recommendation on the start of negotiations will depend only on the results delivered," he said.
"We will not shift the goal posts; it will be fair play."
Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership since 2005 but has so far failed in its bid to begin talks as a result of the slow pace of reforms, such as changes to its judiciary system and fighting corruption.
Author: ca/dpa/AFP/AP/Reuters
Editor: Susan Houlton