What were Iceland's main negotiating objectives in the field of the environment in the EU accession negotiations in 2009 - 2013?
What were Iceland's main negotiating objectives in the field of the environment in the EU accession negotiations in 2009 - 2013?
Environmental matters are covered under Chapter 27. The chapter was opened on 18 December 2012 and negotiations were still ongoing when they were put on hold.
The negotiating objectives were:
- Nature conservation: continued hunting of whales, seals, and wild birds.
- Special arrangements and an adaptation period for the incorporation and application of water quality and air quality regulations.
- Iceland would retain adaptations already secured under the EEA Agreement.
Climate action has developed significantly since the accession negotiations were put on hold in 2013 and now constitutes a more substantial part of EU legislation. The EU Emissions Trading System has been implemented through the EEA Agreement and Iceland cooperates with the EU on climate action through that framework. The BBNJ Agreement has entered into force; Iceland and the EU are both parties.
See more information in the memorandum by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs at the request of the Althing's Foreign Affairs Committee on 17 April 2026 (in Icelandic).
See Chapter 27 of the accession negotiations in 2009-2013 on the old accession negotiation website.
See complete overview of all chapters of the 2009 - 2013 accession negotiations.