Iceland moves toward referendum on EU talks

The government of Iceland is preparing to propose a date for a referendum on whether to resume negotiations on the country’s possible accession to the European Union, the foreign ministry told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on February 26.

Iceland suspended its EU accession talks in 2013, but Foreign Ministry spokesman Aegir Thor Eysteinsson said work is now underway on a parliamentary resolution that would allow a nationwide vote on restarting negotiations.

“A motion for a parliamentary resolution which will enable such a referendum is being prepared and will be presented to Althingi, the Icelandic Parliament, this spring,” he said in a statement to AFP.

He added that the exact date has not yet been determined. The Icelandic parliament’s summer recess generally begins in June, setting a likely timeframe for parliamentary consideration.

Under the current government coalition agreement, a vote to determine “whether to continue negotiations on Iceland’s membership of the European Union” must be held by the end of 2027.

Iceland originally applied for EU membership in 2009 under a left-wing government. Formal negotiations began in 2010 but were suspended three years later following parliamentary elections. In 2015, a centre-right government formally withdrew the country’s application.

Public opinion on the issue remains divided. According to a poll published in early February by public broadcaster RÚV, support and opposition to EU accession are currently evenly split among the population.

By Tamilla Hasanova