Iceland may vote on restarting EU talks in August

Iceland is considering holding a referendum on resuming negotiations to join the European Union as early as August this year. The governing coalition had originally envisaged a vote in 2027. According to Politico, sources familiar with the preparations say the Icelandic parliament could announce a date in the coming weeks.

The acceleration comes amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty, following the introduction of US tariffs and President Donald Trump’s remarks on Greenland.

Iceland applied for EU membership in 2009 during the financial crisis, but negotiations were frozen in 2013. In 2015, Reykjavik asked no longer to be regarded as a candidate country.

Before talks were suspended, 11 of 33 negotiating chapters had been closed. As a member of the European Economic Area and the Schengen area, Iceland has already implemented much of EU legislation.

One of the main political obstacles remains fishing rights, which have played a central role in the past. Iceland has no standing army, and its security is guaranteed through NATO and a 1951 defence agreement with the US.

According to surveys, support for membership is growing, with security cited as the principal argument.

(pir)