EU decision on Iceland bid delayed until March

Iceland must wait until March to formally launch negotiations to join the European Union because recommendations on its application have not yet been finalised, diplomats said on Tuesday. Reykjavik had hoped to get approval from EU leaders at a summit on Thursday to formally launch accession talks with the 27-nation bloc, but a delay in appointing a new European Commission, the executive that steers EU enlargement policy, has stalled the process, the diplomats said. The new Commission was due to take office on Nov 1 but was delayed until EU leaders appointed a new EU president and high representative for foreign affairs as part of the Lisbon reform treaty, which came into force on Dec 1. The new 27-member EU executive is expected to take office on Feb 1.