What were Iceland's main negotiating objectives in the field of energy in the EU accession negotiations in 2009 - 2013??

What were Iceland's main negotiating objectives in the field of energy in the EU accession negotiations in 2009 - 2013?

Energy is covered under Chapter 15. The chapter was opened on 12 December 2011. Negotiations were ongoing when the accession negotiations were put on hold. Iceland was expected to submit more information and action plans in order to close the chapter.

The negotiating objectives were:

• To ensure ownership of Iceland's energy resources and the right to manage them.
• To retain exemptions and adaptations already secured under the EEA.
• To affirm that Iceland is not connected to the EU’s electricity market and that any decision on such a connection would be Iceland's to make.
• Iceland requested an adaptation period until 2030 regarding minimum fuel reserves.

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 15 of the EU accession negotiations in 2009 - 2013.

See complete overview of all chapters of the 2009 - 2013 accession negotiations.