1. Halldór Grönvold Deputy General Secretary Icelandic Confederation of Labour – ASI April 2012 Iceland: Accession negotiations with the European Union The application for membership and the negotiations The policy of the Icelandic Confederation of Labour – ASI The state of play and future developments?

2. The beginning Forming a new government in early 2009 the Socialdemocratic party and the Left-green put on the agenda of the new government to apply for membership to European Union On July 16 2009 the Icelandic parliament – Althingi – past a resolution that the government should apply for membership. On July 23 2009 the application was formally handed inn and on July 27 2009 the EU opened the accesion negotiations The screening process started in November 2010 and lasted to June 2011 The actual negotiation then started in June 2011

3. Steps towards membership Opening of accession negotiations: 27 July 2010 Screening exercise Accession negotiations Conclusion of negotiations Accession Treaty European Parliament assent Signature of Accession Treaty Ratification by EU Member States and Iceland EU accession

4. The negotiations The main negotiation team is made up of diplomats, academics, civil servants and former politicians The preparations for the screening process and then to develop the negotiating position (based on the resolution by the majority of the foreign affairs committee of the Icelandic parliament) is the responsibility of 10 negotiating groups 33 substantial chapters 21 chapters (EU legislation mostly already implemented through the EEA agreement) in 2 negotiating groups The negotiating groups are composed of high ranking civil servants and representatives of the main stakeholders

5. ASI and EU membership ASI has participated actively in the dialogue on European cooperation/integration since 1990 ASI did not take stand on EEA agreement in 1992 „If Iceland joins we will participate actively in the interest of workers“ In 2000 ASI´s Congress stated that technically there where three possibilities Going back to bilateral agreement with the EU (which at that time was proposed by some politicians in Iceland) Strengthening the EEA cooperation Membership to EU “The discussion about membership to the EU must be put on the agenda. The nation must have the opportunity to answer the question whether it wants to take this step or not.”

6. ASI and EU membership At its annual meeting in October 2008, ASI came to the conclusion that the only way out of the crisis would be for the government to issue a statement that Iceland would apply for membership of the EU and adopt the euro as a currency within the shortest possible time frame. Meanwhile, the country should apply for membership of the ERM II mechanism When agreement has been reached the decision should then be taken by the Icelandic population in national referendum This policy was strengthen further at ASI´s extraordinary annual meeting in March 2009

7. ASI´s policy This policy was strengthen further at ASI´s extraordinary annual meeting in March 2009 At that meeting the policy if ASI as regards the most debated issues foreseen in accession negotiations was stated Fisheries Agriculture and rural policies The currency issue Regional policies Also Labour market and educational policies

8. The application for membership and ASI ASI´s policy had important impact on the policy of the new government in 2009 when it was formed and the decision by Althingi to apply for membership later that year ASI has participated actively in the internal discussions, the screening process and the negotiation with EU Participating in all negotiation committee One to four members in each Dialogue with representatives of EU DG Enlargement, DG Employment - EESC Taking initiatives and participating in projects both under IPA and TAIEX

9. The negotiations Free movement of workers (Chapter 2) Closed Public procurement (Chapter 5) Company Law (Chapter 6)Closed Intellectual property rights (Chapter 7) Closed Competition policy (Chapter 8) Information Society and Media (Chapter 10) Energy (Chapter 15) Enterprise and industrial policy (Chapter 20)Closed Trans-European networks (Chapter 21) Closed Judiciary and fundamental rights (Chapter 23)Closed Science and Research (Chapter 25)Closed Education and Culture (Chapter 26)Closed Consumer & health protection (Chapter 28)Closed Foreign, Security and Defence Policy (Chapter 31) Closed Financial and budgetary provisions (Chapter 33)

10. Social policy and employment – chapter 19 Negotiation position of Iceland – General statement Iceland is a strong proponent of the Nordic social model and has built a welfare system on the premise of fairness, equality and social cohesion. The Iceland 20/20 policy statement lays out the government´s social objectives for maintaining a dynamic society founded on welfare, knowledge and sustainability. Iceland emphasizes the importance of a developed system of industrial relations and a well-established tripartite dialogue. That includes the right of the social partners to negotiate and conclude collective agreements, the right of the social partners to be consulted and participate in decision making on labour market and other related economic and social issues, and fundamental rights such as the right to strike and to take industrial action. Furthermore, Iceland emphasizes the importance of ensuring that labour market rules are designed to prevent social dumping and encourage high standards of social protection by applying appropriate measures aimed at protecting domestic and posted workers’ rights and maintaining high standards in the workplace. Such measures may include, inter alia, an effective system for general application of collective agreements, and introduction of joint responsibility and liability for contractors and sub-contractors in order to ensure enforcement of workers’ rights.

11. The difficult chapters still to be opened The fishery policy The Fishing Vessel Owners Federtion is firmly against EU membership The agricultural policy The Farmers Federation firmly against membership to EU Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments The aim is to open all chapters before the end of 2012

12. The political climate For long time opinion polls have showned that the majority of the nation is against membership At the same time majority has been for concluding the negotiations and put the agreement before the nation in national referendum The majority of MP in all the major parties except for the Socialdemocrats have been against membership to EU Lately the No movement has gained momentum – The Icesave issue Will the negotiations been put on hold???

13. Further information http://europe.mfa.is/sidemenu/explaning-the- application-process/