The European Council decided on 17 June 2010 to open negotiations with Iceland. “This is a good day for Iceland and for all of us. Our home is Europe and Iceland's EU membership will certainly serve our mutual interests. Iceland looks forward to contributing to European integration as an Arctic state with substantial expertise in sustainable fisheries and geothermal energy.”
Mr. Ossur Skarphedinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland
The third meeting of the Accession Conference between Iceland and the EU at Ministerial level took place earlier today in Brussels. The Icelandic delegation was led by Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson. Discussions took place on five chapters of the accession negotiations, four of which were provisionally closed.
Today, Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson met with Ms. Lucinda Creighton, Minister of State With Special Responsibility for European Affairs in Ireland. The Ministers discussed measures the European Union has taken to deal with the debt crisis and the current situation and prospects ahead in the eurozone.
Össur Skarphéðinsson Minister of Foreign Affairs in Iceland and Villy Søvndal the newly appointed Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with the Denmark's new Minister for European Affairs, Nikolai Wammen, met today at the sidelines of the Nordic Council Session in Copenhagen.
According to Landnámabók, the settlement of Iceland began in AD 874 when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfur Arnarson became the first permanent settler.
Most Icelanders are descendants of Norse and Gaelic settlers. Icelandic has virtually been unchanged for the past 1100 years.