Europe News

Iceland adds names to EU negotiation team

Nov 4, 2009, 17:00 GMT

Reykjavik - Iceland on Wednesday added more names to the committee that under chief negotiator Stefan Haukur Johannesson is to handle talks on joining the 27-member European Union. Johannesson, named chief negotiator Tuesday, is ambassador to the EU in Brussels where he has served since 2005. He was to chair the negotiation committee that includes the heads of individual negotiation teams dealing with issues like fisheries, finance and legal affairs. The teams include academics from the University of Iceland, the foreign ministry, the ministries of agriculture, fisheries and finance, the central bank, and organizations. Iceland reversed a decades-long policy of independence from the EU in July, when it handed in its application in the wake of the global financial crisis that a year ago saw its three main banks collapse. The application is being assessed by the European Commission. Iceland has already harmonized parts of its legal code with the EU because it is a member of the European Economic Area and the border- free Schengen zone. Fisheries and agriculture will likely be the main sticking points.

Europe News

Iceland adds names to EU negotiation team

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