The EU’s foreign affairs ministers are due to confirm, during their Council of 26 July in Brussels, opening accession negotiations with Iceland the following day. A consensus was reached on the subject, on 22 July, between the ambassadors of the 27 member states. Negotiations comprise 35 chapters, of which some are set to be problematic, notably fisheries and agriculture.

The island can, however, hope to become the 29th member of the EU after Croatia, which in principle is to be the next country to join, in 2011 or early 2012. Iceland is at a much more advanced stage of rapprochement with the EU than all the other countries knocking on the Union’s door, be it the Balkan states or Turkey. It has been part of the common market for more than 15 years through the European Economic Area and is a member of the Schengen area.

Iceland had filed its request for EU membership in July 2009. But proceedings were held up by a dispute with the Netherlands and the United Kingdom over compensation for their citizens, who were victims of the collapse of the Icelandic bank Icesave. The dispute should be resolved bilaterally.

Reykjavik hopes to join the EU by 2012. However, it will need to gain the approval of some 300,000 Icelanders, who will be consulted in a referendum.