Text tabled : B7-0407/2010

  Marielle De Sarnez (ALDE), in writing. – (FR) We have every reason to welcome the opening of negotiations on Iceland’s accession to the EU. As a country with a long history of democracy and which is already linked to the EU by means of numerous agreements, Iceland would appear to be a very clear cut case. However, the EU enlargement process has, for too long, been dogged by pretend candidates. We have wasted a huge amount of time rambling on about obscure territorial conflicts (Croatia/Slovenia) and keeping the tally in the eternal battle over the name of Macedonia; we have botched negotiations on the accession of one half of Cyprus and been far too keen to welcome states still blighted by corruption. This is why we must dot the i’s and cross the t’s from the very start of the debate with our Icelandic friends. This is what Parliament has done by sending a warm message of welcome to Iceland while, at the same time, reminding it that it may only become a full member of the Union if it plays a constructive role in the abandonment of industrial whale hunting. (Iceland, Norway and Japan continue to fish the marine mammal despite the moratorium which was adopted 24 years ago by the International Whaling Commission.) All that remains for us to do is to convince the 300 000 Icelanders, rocked by the crisis, that they have everything to gain from joining us in the European project.