Iceland sees rising support to restart EU accession talks, says foreign minister

Iceland has enough public support to reopen accession negotiations with the European Union, the country’s Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir said ahead of a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Von der Leyen’s visit to the island, which includes meetings with Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir and a tour of the strategic NATO air base in Keflavík, comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tension, Caliber.Az reports via Politico.

Iceland is currently navigating the economic impact of a trade dispute between its two largest trading partners, alongside pressure from the United States to strengthen defense ties and threats from Washington regarding Greenland.

“I would say the public support for recommencing the negotiations is there,” Gunnarsdóttir told POLITICO.

She described reopening EU accession talks as “vital when it comes to the geopolitical situation,” highlighting that Iceland had already “advanced pretty far into the negotiation process” during its previous bid from 2010 to 2013.

The current coalition government in Reykjavik, which supports closer ties with the EU, has pledged to hold a referendum on restarting accession talks by 2027. The previous attempt was suspended under a right-wing government in 2013.

Gunnarsdóttir, who also leads Iceland’s pro-EU Reform party, said she trusted “the nation and the people of Iceland to decide to continue” and expressed hope that “people say yes.” While she voiced a desire to “speed up the process” in the event of a favourable vote, she acknowledged that “sensitive, emotional” topics such as fisheries, agriculture, and energy would likely complicate negotiations.

Although Iceland is already a member of the European Economic Area and part of the Schengen free travel zone, it has never formally joined the EU.

A poll conducted earlier this year showed that 58 per cent of Icelanders support reopening accession talks, while only 45 per cent favour full EU membership. Around 35 per cent remain opposed, with 20 per cent undecided.

By Khagan Isayev