BRUSSELS, July 27 (UPI) -- Formal talks began Tuesday on Iceland's application for membership in the European Union after EU foreign ministers approved the start of negotiations.
The North Atlantic island nation has already aligned itself with many EU laws but several key issues may prove difficult to negotiate, the EUobserver reported.
Among the most crucial issues is fishing rights, especially whale hunting.
Iceland is interested in seeing that its rich fishing waters are not over-fished by EU member states.
In addition to fishing, Britain and the Netherlands have linked Iceland's membership to resolving a dispute over money their depositors lost in the 2008 collapse of the Icelandic Icesave Internet bank.
UPI
