BETA


2010/2746(RSP) Resolution on Iceland's application for membership of the European Union

Progress: Procedure completed

Legal Basis:
RoP 132-p2

Events

2010/11/29
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2010/07/07
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2010/07/07
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2010/07/07
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2010/07/07
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted a resolution tabled by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on Iceland’s application for membership of the EU.

Political criteria : Members welcome the decision of the European Council to open accession negotiations with Iceland, as well as the prospect of having as a new EU Member State a country with a strong democratic culture. Commending Iceland on its human rights record, Parliament emphasises that Iceland's accession will further enhance the Union's role as a worldwide promoter and defender of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It highlights the excellent cooperation between the Members of the European Parliament and the members of the Althingi in the framework of the EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee and expects an equally fruitful collaboration in the new EP-Iceland Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Members add that the Government of Iceland should adopt the measures necessary to ensure the independence of the judiciary, in line with Venice Commission recommendations, adequately addressing the issue of the predominant role given to the Minister of Justice and Human Rights in the appointment of judges, prosecutors and supreme judicial authorities.

Economic criteria : Parliament notes that the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has stated, in its letter of formal notice of 26 May 2010 - the first step in an infringement procedure against it for failure to comply with its obligations under the EEA agreement to implement the EU Deposit Guarantee Directive (94/19/EC)-that Iceland is obliged to ensure payment of the minimum compensation to Icesave depositors in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. It welcomes the Icelandic Government's reaction of readiness to conclude the Icesave negotiations as soon as possible.

Furthermore, Members call for a bilateral agreement to be concluded on arrangements for the repayment of loans totalling EUR 3.9 billion to the Governments of the UK and the Netherlands. They stress that reaching an agreement acceptable to all parties will restore confidence in Iceland's ability to honour its commitments, including compliance with all obligations under the EEA agreement, and will strengthen the public support, both in Iceland and in the EU, for the Icelandic accession process.

Capacity to assume the obligations of membership : the resolution notes that, as an EEA member, Iceland is at an advanced stage of compliance with the requirements of 10 of the negotiating chapters and partly fulfils the requirements of 11 chapters, leaving only 12 chapters not covered by the EEA that need to be negotiated in full. It makes the following points:

Iceland is encouraged to adopt fisheries-policy measures that will allow it to make the transition towards introduction of the CFP. Parliament recognises the responsible and sustainable manner in which Iceland has managed its marine resources and expects both the EU and the Icelandic authorities to adopt a constructive attitude in negotiations on the requirement for Iceland to adopt the European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), so that the outcome may be a mutually satisfactory solution based on best practices and protecting the interest of both fishermen and consumers in the EU, as well as in Iceland; the Icelandic authorities should address the key institutional weaknesses of the country's economy, notably the organisation and functioning of the financial supervisory system and the deposit guarantee system; they must adopt an agricultural and rural development policy in line with EU policies, and put in place the administrative structures needed to implement these policies.

Lastly, Parliament insists that Iceland cease all whaling and drop all the reservations it has lodged with the International Whaling Commission.

Regional cooperation : Iceland's accession to the EU – inasmuch as it will further anchor the European presence in the Arctic Council – is a strategic opportunity for the EU to play a more active and constructive role, and also to contribute to multilateral governance, in the Arctic Region. Members point out that this will help in tackling environmental issues of common concern and could heighten EU interest in the Arctic and its protection at regional and international level.

Public opinion and support for enlargement : Member States and the Commission are asked to give EU citizens clear and comprehensive information on the implications of Iceland's accession, and to address citizens" concerns and questions.

Parliament encourages the Icelandic authorities to initiate a broad public debate about EU accession, involving civil society in the process from the outset, addressing Icelandic citizens" concerns about EU membership and taking into account the need for a firm commitment in order to have successful negotiations. It calls on the Commission to provide material and technical support, if requested to do so by the Icelandic authorities, in order to help them improve transparency and accountability in relation to the accession process and to organise a thorough and extensive country-wide campaign of information on the implications of EU membership, so that Icelandic citizens can make an informed choice in the future referendum on accession.

Documents
2010/07/07
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament

Documents

Activities

Votes

B7-0407/2010 - Demande d'adhésion de l'Islande à l'Union européenne - PAR 26 #

2010/07/07 Outcome: +: 494, -: 151, 0: 20
IT DE ES FR RO PL BG HU EL PT AT IE SK BE LT SE FI SI DK MT NL LU EE LV CZ CY GB
Total
65
87
46
68
30
44
17
20
21
18
17
11
11
20
10
14
13
6
13
5
24
6
6
8
19
5
60
icon: PPE PPE
241

Slovenia PPE

2

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

2

Luxembourg PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Czechia PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

1
icon: S&D S&D
174

Finland S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Netherlands S&D

3

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Latvia S&D

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
75

Slovakia ALDE

For (1)

1

Lithuania ALDE

2

Sweden ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

2
3

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
26

Spain NI

1

France NI

2

Bulgaria NI

2
3

Belgium NI

Abstain (1)

1
icon: EFD EFD
24

France EFD

Against (1)

1

Greece EFD

2

Slovakia EFD

Against (1)

1

Lithuania EFD

2

Finland EFD

Against (1)

1

Denmark EFD

2

Netherlands EFD

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
33

Spain GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Ireland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Latvia GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

4

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
42

Hungary ECR

Against (1)

1

Belgium ECR

Against (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
49

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Greece Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

4

Sweden Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

Against (2)

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

B7-0407/2010 - Demande d'adhésion de l'Islande à l'Union européenne - AM 2 #

2010/07/07 Outcome: +: 323, -: 272, 0: 67
IT BE GB NL FR CZ ES AT EL CY MT DK LT SK DE LV SE PT SI EE IE BG FI RO LU HU PL
Total
63
20
62
23
67
19
46
17
21
5
5
13
10
11
87
8
14
16
6
6
11
17
13
30
6
20
45
icon: S&D S&D
175

Netherlands S&D

3

Latvia S&D

1

Slovenia S&D

2

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Finland S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
49

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Greece Verts/ALE

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

2

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
31

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Latvia GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
26

Belgium NI

For (1)

1

France NI

2

Spain NI

1

Bulgaria NI

2
3
icon: ECR ECR
43

Belgium ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Latvia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Hungary ECR

Abstain (1)

1
icon: EFD EFD
23

Netherlands EFD

For (1)

1

France EFD

Against (1)

1

Greece EFD

2

Denmark EFD

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Lithuania EFD

2

Slovakia EFD

For (1)

1

Finland EFD

Against (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
74

Belgium ALDE

4

Spain ALDE

2

Denmark ALDE

3

Lithuania ALDE

2

Slovakia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

Against (1)

1

Sweden ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

Against (2)

2
3

Luxembourg ALDE

Against (1)

1
icon: PPE PPE
240

Czechia PPE

2

Cyprus PPE

Against (1)

1

Malta PPE

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia PPE

Against (2)

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

3

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2010-0407_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2010-0407_EN.html
events/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20100707&type=CRE
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-7-2010-07-07-TOC_EN.html
events/2
date
2010-07-07T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2010-0278_EN.html title: T7-0278/2010
summary
events/2
date
2010-07-07T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2010-0278_EN.html title: T7-0278/2010
summary
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 132-p2
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 123-p2
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2010-407&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-7-2010-0407_EN.html
docs/1/body
EC
events/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2010-278
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2010-0278_EN.html
activities
  • date: 2010-07-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=18676&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20100707&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2010-278 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0278/2010 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees
    docs
    • date: 2010-07-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B7-2010-407&language=EN title: B7-0407/2010 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2010-11-29T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=18676&j=0&l=en title: SP(2010)6850 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
    events
    • date: 2010-07-07T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=18676&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
    • date: 2010-07-07T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20100707&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
    • date: 2010-07-07T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2010-278 title: T7-0278/2010 summary: The European Parliament adopted a resolution tabled by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on Iceland’s application for membership of the EU. Political criteria : Members welcome the decision of the European Council to open accession negotiations with Iceland, as well as the prospect of having as a new EU Member State a country with a strong democratic culture. Commending Iceland on its human rights record, Parliament emphasises that Iceland's accession will further enhance the Union's role as a worldwide promoter and defender of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It highlights the excellent cooperation between the Members of the European Parliament and the members of the Althingi in the framework of the EEA Joint Parliamentary Committee and expects an equally fruitful collaboration in the new EP-Iceland Joint Parliamentary Committee. Members add that the Government of Iceland should adopt the measures necessary to ensure the independence of the judiciary, in line with Venice Commission recommendations, adequately addressing the issue of the predominant role given to the Minister of Justice and Human Rights in the appointment of judges, prosecutors and supreme judicial authorities. Economic criteria : Parliament notes that the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has stated, in its letter of formal notice of 26 May 2010 - the first step in an infringement procedure against it for failure to comply with its obligations under the EEA agreement to implement the EU Deposit Guarantee Directive (94/19/EC)-that Iceland is obliged to ensure payment of the minimum compensation to Icesave depositors in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. It welcomes the Icelandic Government's reaction of readiness to conclude the Icesave negotiations as soon as possible. Furthermore, Members call for a bilateral agreement to be concluded on arrangements for the repayment of loans totalling EUR 3.9 billion to the Governments of the UK and the Netherlands. They stress that reaching an agreement acceptable to all parties will restore confidence in Iceland's ability to honour its commitments, including compliance with all obligations under the EEA agreement, and will strengthen the public support, both in Iceland and in the EU, for the Icelandic accession process. Capacity to assume the obligations of membership : the resolution notes that, as an EEA member, Iceland is at an advanced stage of compliance with the requirements of 10 of the negotiating chapters and partly fulfils the requirements of 11 chapters, leaving only 12 chapters not covered by the EEA that need to be negotiated in full. It makes the following points: Iceland is encouraged to adopt fisheries-policy measures that will allow it to make the transition towards introduction of the CFP. Parliament recognises the responsible and sustainable manner in which Iceland has managed its marine resources and expects both the EU and the Icelandic authorities to adopt a constructive attitude in negotiations on the requirement for Iceland to adopt the European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), so that the outcome may be a mutually satisfactory solution based on best practices and protecting the interest of both fishermen and consumers in the EU, as well as in Iceland; the Icelandic authorities should address the key institutional weaknesses of the country's economy, notably the organisation and functioning of the financial supervisory system and the deposit guarantee system; they must adopt an agricultural and rural development policy in line with EU policies, and put in place the administrative structures needed to implement these policies. Lastly, Parliament insists that Iceland cease all whaling and drop all the reservations it has lodged with the International Whaling Commission. Regional cooperation : Iceland's accession to the EU – inasmuch as it will further anchor the European presence in the Arctic Council – is a strategic opportunity for the EU to play a more active and constructive role, and also to contribute to multilateral governance, in the Arctic Region. Members point out that this will help in tackling environmental issues of common concern and could heighten EU interest in the Arctic and its protection at regional and international level. Public opinion and support for enlargement : Member States and the Commission are asked to give EU citizens clear and comprehensive information on the implications of Iceland's accession, and to address citizens" concerns and questions. Parliament encourages the Icelandic authorities to initiate a broad public debate about EU accession, involving civil society in the process from the outset, addressing Icelandic citizens" concerns about EU membership and taking into account the need for a firm commitment in order to have successful negotiations. It calls on the Commission to provide material and technical support, if requested to do so by the Icelandic authorities, in order to help them improve transparency and accountability in relation to the accession process and to organise a thorough and extensive country-wide campaign of information on the implications of EU membership, so that Icelandic citizens can make an informed choice in the future referendum on accession.
    • date: 2010-07-07T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
    links
    other
      procedure/legal_basis/0
      Rules of Procedure EP 123-p2
      procedure/legal_basis/0
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 123-p2
      procedure/subject
      Old
      • 8.20 Enlargement of the Union
      • 8.20.01 Candidate countries
      New
      8.20
      Enlargement of the Union
      8.20.01
      Candidate countries
      procedure/subtype
      Old
      Resolution on statements
      New
      Resolution on statement
      activities
      • date: 2010-07-07T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=18676&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20100707&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2010-278 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0278/2010 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
      committees
        links
        other
          procedure
          legal_basis
          Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 123-p2
          reference
          2010/2746(RSP)
          title
          Resolution on Iceland's application for membership of the European Union
          geographical_area
          Iceland
          stage_reached
          Procedure completed
          subtype
          Resolution on statements
          type
          RSP - Resolutions on topical subjects
          subject