Reykjavik - Iceland moved closer Thursday to a decision on applying for membership in the European Union after the foreign affairs committee concluded its deliberations on the government's proposal. A formal debate in the 63-seat parliament was not due until Friday, and could continue over the weekend or resume on Monday if the debate is not over, according to the chairman of the foreign affairs committee.
Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir and her Social Democratic party favour EU membership but other parties have been cooler to joining the 27- nation bloc, fearing Iceland would lose control over its rich fishing waters.
Iceland has been severely hit by the global financial crisis, and has seen a surge in unemployment and the North Atlantic nations leading banks taken over by the government.
Nordic neighbour Sweden recently took over the rotating presidency of the EU.
Iceland is already a member of the European Economic Area and the border-free Schengen zone, meaning that its legislation is already in line with EU rules in many areas. Analysts say that that should make accession negotiations on most subjects relatively easy.
"We can't consider an application until we receive it," Swedish EU Affairs Minister Cecila Malmstrom told the German Press Agency
