US EditionIceland to Hold EU Referendum 'in the Coming Months', PM Says
The referendum follows renewed interest driven by economic pressures and security concerns, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and US threats over Greenland, officials said.
- On Wednesday, Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir said, `In the coming months, we are going to have a referendum on opening up the negotiations` to restart EU accession talks, announcing this in Poland.
- Previously, Reykjavik began EU accession talks after the 2008 global financial crisis but paused negotiations in 2013 after four years.
- Rising costs and geopolitical threats like Russia's invasion of Ukraine and repeated threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to annex Greenland pressure Iceland, home to almost 400,000 residents.
- Kristrún Frostadóttir framed the move as opening an opportunity for Iceland and pursuing better integration with Europe, noting Iceland is already part of the EU single market, Schengen, and EFTA.
- With campaign pledges to hold a referendum no later than next year, Frostadóttir's centre-left government sped up plans from a 2027 target after the 2024 snap election.
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40 Articles
der Standard AT
der Standard DEIceland's government will soon hold a referendum on the resumption of accession talks. Nato country has the best conditions for integration
Iceland to Hold Referendum on Restarting EU Accession Talks, Prime Minister Says
Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir said during a visit to Poland on Feb. 25 that Reykjavik will hold a referendum “in the coming months” on restarting European Union accession talks. Iceland abandoned EU membership talks in 2013 after four years of negotiations. The Nordic island already has access to the EU’s single market through its membership of the European Economic Area and the Schengen open border travel zone. “In the coming m…
The vote will probably take place in August.
Iceland wants to prefer the planned vote on EU accession to the current year. "In the coming months, we will prepare the referendum on the possible resumption of accession negotiations with the European Union," said Prime Minister Frostadottir.
Iceland referendum to restart EU membership talks will be held in 'coming months', PM says
Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir announced that the country will soon hold a referendum to restart talks to join the European Union. The country cites Donald Trump's threats to annex Greenland, a rising cost of living and the war in Ukraine as the primary reasons for its interest in joining the bloc after abandoning talks in 2013.
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