According to sources of the AFP news agency the European leaders meeting in Brussels have just agreed to take up negotiations with Iceland on possible membership to the European Union. In a statement it says than even though Iceland has some structural weaknesses, including in the financial system, it does fulfill all preconditions set for the negotiations. Therefore they should commence. This was agreed to just before lunch, mbl.is reports.
Iceland’s European Chief Negotiator, Stefán Haukur Jóhannesson
Iceland sent an application for membership to Brussels in July 2009. Formal negotiations could take a long time, but are expected to begin in late 2010 or early 2011 after some preliminary work.
