Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 212 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure^f1,

Whereas:

Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006^f2 provides for assistance to candidate and potential candidate countries in their progressive alignment with the standards and policies of the European Union, including, where appropriate, the acquis communautaire, with a view to membership of the Union.

Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union states that any European State which respects and is committed to promoting the values referred to in Article 2 of that Treaty, namely human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, may apply to become a member of the Union.

The European Council of 14 December 2006 expressed in its conclusions a renewed consensus on enlargement, including the principle that each applicant country is to be assessed on its own merits.

Following the submission on 16 July 2009 of the application by the Republic of Iceland (hereafter referred to as ‘Iceland’) for membership of the European Union, the Council has invited the Commission to submit to the Council its opinion on Iceland’s application. Iceland can therefore be considered as a potential candidate country.

Under Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 assistance to potential candidate countries and candidate countries from the Western Balkans and Turkey is provided, inter alia, in accordance with the European and Accession Partnerships.

Iceland is a member of the European Economic Area. Consequently, assistance under Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 is to be provided taking due account of the Reports and the Strategy Paper comprised in the annual Enlargement package of the Commission,

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