On track to be the 29th member of the EU? MEPs discussed the island’s progress in negotiations but Reykjavík will submit it to a referendum, meaning all is not yet won.

Iceland edges closer to EU

Iceland’s EU membership bid is on track.

After talks opened one year ago  MEPs are taking stock of the situation.

They are quite optimistic but the touchy  issue of fishing has yet to be dealt with.

On maritime resources they have  a very good experience on fisheries

which we could learn from them  and it would be very good

if we could find solutions to things:  environmental, maritime, economic,

and some others, like energy where  they really have some knowledge

and we could have fruitful cooperation  between the EU and Iceland.

With 320,000 inhabitants Iceland would  be one of the smallest EU countries,

which would give it 5 seats in the chamber.

This MEP feels Reykjavik’s entry into the  EU would benefit the Icelandic people

especially by opening it up  to adopting the euro.

They’ve already seen the  advantages of Europe.

They also think about eventually  adopting the euro,

because their currency is one with  an extremely limited circulation

Optimists hope to see Iceland  enter the EU at the same time as Croatia,

at best by 2013. But all that depends on  a referendum to be held in Iceland.

In May an EP delegation will go to Reykjavik to  evaluate the budgetary implications

that Iceland’s EU membership  could have.