The General Affairs Council (GAC) is expected to formally approve, on 26 July, a decision setting out the organisation and functioning of the External Action Service (EAS) and endorse the negotiation framework for the accession of Iceland to the European Union.

The first accession conference with Iceland is scheduled to start the following day. Steven Vanackere, the Belgian foreign affairs minister, will meet his Icelandic counterpart, Ossur Skarphedinsson, in Brussels to start negotiations. Of the 35 chapters that will be opened many should be unproblematic as Iceland, which has been part of the common market for over 15 years through the European Economic Area (EEA) and is a member of the Schengen area, has already adopted much of the acquis communautaire. However, difficulties are expected on topics such as fisheries and financial services. One of the stickiest issues is commercial whaling, which Iceland allows on the basis of national quotas. This runs against the EU’s firm opposition to whaling, “except for strictly traditional uses”. Bringing Iceland into the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) will not be an easy task.

FORMAL APPROVAL OF EAS

Following the approval of the External Action Service by the European Parliament, on 8 July, and by the Commission, on 20 July, the Council is expected to formally endorse a decision establishing the EU’s diplomatic service. Agreement was reached at Coreper (Committee of Permanent Representatives) level, which means it should be merely procedural. Following this, the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, will officially begin constructing the EAS. The objective is to have it up and running by 1 December. Ashton’s first step will be to launch the recruitment procedure. However, for Ashton to be able to hire there is still need for a supplementary budget for 2010. Interviews have already begun and the high representative hopes to be able to officially recruit senior staff in October. Two other issues remain to be solved between the EP and the Council: the financial and the staff regulations.

ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE

The GAC will give the Belgian EU Presidency an opportunity to present its programme for its six months at the helm of the technical formations of the Council. The follow-up to the previous EU summit in June will be discussed and the draft agenda for the next one, on 16 September, will also be prepared. The September summit is expected to focus on the EU’s relationship with strategic partners as well as on the interim report, presented on that occasion, of the taskforce on economic governance led by the Council President Herman Van Rompuy. Its preparation will continue at the next GAC, on 13 September, in the presence of Van Rompuy.