Icelanders will vote on whether to resume European Union accession talks somewhat earlier than previously planned, Reykjavik’s foreign ministry said. The Cabinet approved holding the vote on August 29; the proposal, put forward by Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir’s center-left coalition, must be approved by parliament, the Althingi, before the referendum can take place. The government says it will present the proposal to parliament early next week.
If Icelanders back resuming talks and those talks lead to an invitation to join the EU, a second and final referendum on membership would be held. The government says that if the August vote fails, the issue will be off the table permanently.
A new Gallup poll cited by public broadcaster RÚV shows 57% support resuming EU membership talks, while 30% oppose.
Opinion polls indicate growing public concern about rising living costs and Arctic geopolitical volatility, heightened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and tensions around Greenland. Prime Minister Frostadóttir has said Iceland would be a strong and reliable partner within the EU and that Reykjavik’s negotiating position vis-à-vis Brussels is good.
Despite decades of close ties to Europe, strong opposition to full membership remains, notably among farmers and those worried about the impact on Iceland’s fishing industry if EU rules required sharing North Atlantic fishing grounds with other nations. Iceland, with a population of about 400,000, currently participates in the European Economic Area and is a member of the Schengen zone. It is also NATO’s smallest member and relies on the alliance for security.
EU accession is a years-long process managed by the European Commission and assessed across 35 chapters covering areas such as transparency, financial systems, fisheries, transport, agriculture, and fundamental freedoms. All 27 EU member states must unanimously agree to admit a new member. Membership would give Reykjavik a direct voice in EU institutions including the Commission, the Council, and the European Parliament.
Iceland first pursued EU membership in 2009 after the 2008 financial crisis but the bid was withdrawn in 2013 by a then-euroskeptic government. When Frostadóttir’s government was elected in 2024 it pledged a referendum by 2027; recent geopolitical developments — including US President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland and related comments at the World Economic Forum — have prompted a sense of urgency.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said Icelanders face “a significant decision” and noted that “the geopolitical context is fundamentally different today than when Iceland first applied for membership,” adding that in a world of competing spheres of influence, EU membership offers “an anchor into a bloc grounded in values, prosperity and security.”
Edited by: Wesley Rahn