“It’s a historical day, a great day, a great joy…” Negotiations for the accession of Iceland to the EU were officially launched on July 27 in a climate of euphoria. The first intergovernmental meeting in between Steven Vanackere, the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, president of Council of the EU, Ossur Skarphedinsson, his Icelandic counterpart and Stefan Füle Commissioner for Enlargement, allowed all of them to express their enthusiasm about entering this new phase and lay the groundwork for future negotiations but also identify the possible pitfalls ahead. While Iceland, in light of its participation in the EEA and Schengen, can be considered to have already completed half of the process, there remains still, however, a long way to go. Iceland’s path to accession is indeed strewn with obstacles, namely fishing, financial services, whaling and agriculture.

Ossur Skarphedinsson can certainly not be blamed for not being enthusiastic and Europhile. He is not one to hesitate in declaring that “Iceland is ten years behind” with regards to its application. “We could have done better to withstand the crisis if Iceland had been a member of the EU and the Euro,” he said. But he is also well aware, as are Vanackere and Füle, that this enthusiasm is not necessarily shared by all Icelandic citizens or even by all European citizens. After all, once the negotiations are over the peoples of Europe and Iceland have the final say by parliamentary means or by referendum. To rally the Icelandic people to the European idea, “it will take significant efforts to provide information,” said Stefan Füle. He indicated that while the ball is clearly in Reykjavik’s camp, the Commission will also provide all possible support in terms of factual and concrete information. The Commissioner intends to make good use of a visit in Reykjavik in September to inaugurate an EU information office. A budget has been allocated to this purpose, he said. For Skaphendisson “if we are able to resolve satisfactorily the issues of concern to the Icelandic people, we will manage to convince them.”

A GATEWAY TO THE ARCTIC

The EU has no intention of making compromises on fundamentals: Reykjavik must adapt and incorporate the acquis communautaire, the whole lot of it. As the Icelandic minister, speaking about agriculture, alluded to exemptions granted to Finland for the “Arctic” portion of its agriculture, Commissioner Füle was prompt to remind him that “in the EU, no derogation is ever final.” The sticky issues are well known: financial services and the free movement of capital, but also fishing, whaling – “the EU needs to take our views into consideration, a ban is out of question before negotiations,” says Skarphendisson, adding however that “everything is negotiable” - agriculture and the environment. The Icelandic Minister was keen to stress the benefits that the EU can obtain through Iceland’s accession: expertise in sustainable fisheries, expertise in renewable energy, particularly in the field of geothermal sources, the most environmentally friendly, abundant and inexpensive energy source, and a key geostrategic position as a gateway to the Arctic.

NO DEADLINE

With regards to procedure, Füle said this day’s formal opening of negotiations will enable the Commission to start its screening operation as early as November. The chapters will be opened gradually, beginning probably with the most difficult, while working at the same time on unproblematic issues. No deadline has been decided upon: while Europeans and Icelandic people believe that things can move along quickly, Vanackere and. Skarphendisson refuse to be constrained by a timetable.

This enthusiasm is not necessarily shared by all Icelandic citizens or even by all European citizens