Just eu and me
The European Union is having a busy time of it - Montenegro has announced its intention to apply for full EU membership next week and Iceland is tipped to make an application for entry as early as next year...
European Union (EU) Leaders are holding a summit today, Friday December 12th, to discuss further enlargement.
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said, "We are mentally preparing for a possible application by Iceland as clearly there is movement in the country."
Up until this point, the country had always been content with its non EU status, but it has begun to reconsider its position after being hit hard by the financial and economic crises, which has caused widespread unemployment across the country.
As Iceland is already a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), its entry into the EU may well take place more quickly than normal. Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde has set up a commission to consider the possibility of EU membership, declaring that his country could start EU talks ‘under the right circumstances.'
Enlargement Commissioner Rehn said, "There are no shortcuts to EU accession, but if Iceland decided to apply for EU membership, negotiations could be wrapped up swiftly, possibly alongside those of Croatia, who is also applying for membership of the EU.
Mr Rehn added, "I feel sympathetic for the Icelandic people, I feel solidarity with them and I would expect that after this problem, related to banking deposit guarantees, is settled, no member state will be opposed to Iceland moving toward the EU," he added.
If Iceland does decide to plow ahead with its EU membership entry, its existing EEA membership would put the country in a position to compete with Croatia to become the EU's 28th member.
Commissioner Rehn said, "The timeline of Croatia or eventually Iceland depends on the negotiations and the implementation of EU legislation."
Meanwhile, Montenegro's (pictured) Government announced that it would be submitting its application for EU membership next Monday, December 15th.
The country's Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, said, "We are trying to agree on a compromise in talks with France and achieve what Montenegro has planned - to apply for a candidate status by the end of the year.
"Serbia and Montenegro started the process of accession to the EU in November 2005, when negotiations over a Stabilisation and Association Agreement began and the country has since gained independence," he added.
But Commissioner Rehn cast a shadow of doubt on Montenegro's bid for membership, saying yesterday, December 11th, that ‘much more work is needed, including on the rule of law and institution building.'
Montenegro's bid is likely to encourage neighbours Serbia and Albania to follow suit, and, if successful, can only be a positive thing for the country's property market.
Picture by edkohler