Foreign Minister Skarphedinsson addresses EU-Iceland Joint Parliamentary Committee

Ossur Skarphedinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, today addressed the 1st meeting of the EU-Iceland Joint Parliamentary Committee in Reykjavik. The Committee comprises of 9 parliamentarians from the European Parliament and 9 from the Icelandic Parliament, Althingi. It's role is to follow relations between the European Union and Iceland with regards to upcoming accession negotiations.

In his address, Minister Skarphedinsson outlined Iceland's general statement at the beginning of the accession talks in Brussels on 27 July, with special emphasis on fisheries and agriculture. In the following discussion, Minister Skarphedinsson explained Iceland's positition on mackerel fisheries and Iceland's right to fish in the context of comprehensive management of the mackerel fisheries. The Minister stressed the need for all parties to reach an agreement on the management of the mackerel fisheries starting next year.