6Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP has been appointed today as the head of the European Parliament delegation that will deal with political relations with Iceland – This appointment comes at a sensitive time as Iceland seeks to join the EU –





Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP has been appointed today in Strasbourg by the European Parliament as the new chairperson of the European Parliament delegation that will be dealing with political and economic relations with Iceland over the next two and a half years.



Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP said that “ I am taking up this position at a very sensitive political time. EU leaders at the end of last July asked the European Commission to draw up an assessment concerning the feasibility of Iceland joining the European Union. The Icelandic Government will then reply to a series of questions that the European Commission will raise relating to the Icelandic accession process.

When this process is completed, I am confident that the EU leaders will then give the formal go ahead to open up full accession negotiations with Iceland.



But it is very important to remember that Iceland is already a member of the European Free Trade Agreement (E.F.T.A.) since 1970.

Iceland is also a member of the European Economic Area Agreement since 1994. This means that the EU internal market rules fully apply and operate in Iceland. This means that Iceland can benefit from the system involving the free movement of goods, services, persons and capital in Europe.



The reality is that because Iceland is a member of the European Economic Area Agreement it has already de facto completed up to 22 different chapters of the accession negotiations out of 35.



Iceland, an island nation on the West coast of Europe, is seeking to forge closer economic and political ties with the European Union.

In 19 days time, Ireland, another island on the west coast of Europe, will have to take a pivotally important decision that will define our own future relationship in Europe for many years to come.



EU accession negotiations with Iceland will take place in a spirit of co-operation and friendship.



We must always remember that Iceland has had very many close ties with Europe for centuries.”



September 16th 2009.