What is actually being negotiated in accession negotiations?

Upon joining the European Union, Iceland would broadly speaking be subject to the same rules and obligations as other EU Member States. However,accession negotiationsmay need to account for special circumstances and key national interests of new Member States, whether through adjustments to EU rules or by securing transition periods. The same would apply in Iceland's case.

So, before a country joins the European Union, it negotiates the terms of accession with the European Union. During these accession negotiations, the EU considers recognising that the candidate country has certain unique characteristics or circumstances that make immediate compliance with EU policies, rules and obligations difficult or undesirable.

If special circumstances or key national interests are recognised by the EU in the accession negotiations it could result in: adaptations to how EU rules and obligations apply to Iceland (for instance); permanent opt-outs from EU policies; or via temporary transition periods to allow the new Member State to adjust to EU membership and to implement EU laws (also known as the acquis).

Seethe website of the EU accession negotiationsin 2009 - 2013.