Iceland today formally presented its application for accession to the European Union, a week after the national Parliament of this small Scandinavian country, with just 320,000 inhabitants, authorized the Government to negotiate the entry.

According to Össur Skarphéðinsson, Iceland's minister for Foreign Affairs, both Iceland and the EU would benefit from Icelandic membership, and he mentioned that in the areas of renewable energy, environment and climate change, and healthy food, Iceland should be able to contribute to the development of the EU.

The Icelandic foreign minister stated at a press conference after having presented Iceland's application for accession to the European Union, that fisheries issues will naturally be particularly important for Iceland in the accession negotiations that lie ahead. At the same time, Iceland has already developed cooperation with the EU in many areas, which should make the negotiations easier.

The Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt, repeated that Iceland’s application would be assessed in accordance with the EU’s established procedures, as he said after the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

“This is the start of a journey for both the EU and Iceland,” said Mr Bildt, who is also pleased that yet another Nordic country is on its way into the EU and that it will have an important impact on the Nordic dimension.