Iceland – Education and culture

Candidate countries conduct negotiations with the European Union (EU) in order to prepare themselves for accession. The accession negotiations cover the adoption and implementation of European legislation (acquis) and, more specifically, the priorities identified jointly by the Commission and the candidate countries in the analytical assessment (or ‘screening’) of the EU’s political and legislative acquis. Each year, the Commission reviews the progress made by candidates and evaluates the efforts required before their accession. This monitoring is the subject of annual reports presented to the Council and the European Parliament.

ACT

Commission Report [COM(2011) 666 final – SEC(2011) 1202 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

SUMMARY

The 2011 Report highlights that Iceland has already put in place most of the European Union (EU) acquis on education and culture. The country applies these provisions due to its membership of the European Economic Area (EEA).

EUROPEAN UNION ACQUIS (according to the Commission’s words)

The fields of education, training, youth and culture are primarily the competence of the Member States. A framework for cooperation on policies relating to education and training has been adopted with a view to converging national policies and achieving joint objectives through an open method of coordination. It came out of the work programme ‘Education and Training 2010’, which brings together all the actions in the field of education and training at European level.

Furthermore, Member States must take into account the principles stated in the Treaty and ensure that their international commitments contribute towards preserving and promoting cultural diversity. It requires Member States to equip themselves with a legal, administrative and financial framework and the implementation capacities necessary for ensuring sound financial management of European Union programmes related to education, training and youth.

EVALUATION (according to the Commission’s words)

Iceland has achieved a high level of political and legislative alignment in the fields of education and culture.

See also

• The website of the Directorate-General for Enlargement, Accession negotiations with Iceland

Last updated: 13.10.2011