Iceland to Vote on EU Accession in National Referendum Soon

Iceland will hold a national EU referendum in the coming months to decide whether to resume negotiations on joining the European Union, Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir said on Wednesday during a visit to Warsaw.

Speaking alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Frostadóttir confirmed that her centre-left government intends to move forward with a public vote well before the previously discussed 2027 timeframe.

The referendum will ask voters whether Iceland should reopen EU accession talks, not whether it should immediately become a member.

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Iceland first applied for EU membership in 2009 in the wake of its financial crisis. Formal negotiations began but were halted in 2013 after a change in government. Concerns over control of fisheries policy, agriculture policy and national sovereignty contributed to the decision to suspend the process.

The issue has regained political attention amid rising living costs, economic uncertainty and shifting security dynamics in Europe. Recent opinion polls indicate growing public support for reconsidering EU membership, though opinion remains divided.

Frostadóttir said the referendum would allow voters to determine Iceland’s long-term direction at a time of geopolitical strain. The war in Ukraine and broader security concerns in the North Atlantic region have influenced debate over Iceland’s international alignment.

Iceland is not a member of the European Union but participates in the EU single market through the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement. It is also part of the Schengen border-free zone, a member of the European Free Trade Association, and a founding member of NATO alliance.

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The government has not announced a specific date for the referendum but said preparations are underway. If voters approve reopening talks, Iceland would re-enter formal negotiations with Brussels, a process expected to involve detailed discussions on trade, fisheries, monetary policy, and regulatory alignment.