Press Release: Statement by the Commission on the decision of the Icelandic Parliament to apply for EU Membership

On 17 July, 2009, the Parliament of Iceland voted in favour of presenting an application for membership in the EU. Commenting the news Commission President José Manuel Barroso said: 'The decision of the Icelandic Parliament is a sign of the vitality of the European project and indicative of the hope that the Euroepan Union represents. Iceland is a European country with long and deep democratic roots. Iceland has very close relations with the EU after some 40 years of EFTA membership and 15 years in the European Economic Area (EEA). It is now up to the Icelandic government to follow-up this decision by officially applying to the Presidency of the EU.'