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Iceland's parliament votes to hold referendum on EU accession talks in August
A yes vote would restart accession talks, and any final EU membership deal would still need a second referendum.
- On Thursday, the Althingi voted to hold an August 29 referendum to restart European Union negotiations, advancing the government's two-step plan that could lead to membership later this decade.
- Reykjavik abandoned negotiations in 2013 under a Eurosceptic government after four years of talks, but rising living costs and the war in Ukraine have since rekindled public interest in joining the European Union.
- In the 63-seat Althingi, 34 members voted to support the referendum, while 8 rejected the proposal and 14 abstained; 7 were absent.
- Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir expressed optimism regarding potential European Union membership by 2028, though she acknowledged that fisheries and agriculture remain the most difficult sectors to resolve.
- Extending the European Union's reach toward Greenland, membership for 400,000 people offers symbolic advantages, University professor Olafur Thordur Hardarson noted; the two-step process may reassure undecided voters.
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42 Articles
42 Articles
The referendum will be held on 29 August.
Iceland is going to hold a referendum on whether the country should resume negotiations with the European Union regarding potential membership. A second referendum on actual accession to the EU should follow later. According to Wouter Zeers, Research Fellow at Clingendael, Iceland, as the 28th EU member state with a strong democracy, could be an asset to the EU.
Iceland will hold a nationwide referendum on resuming EU accession talks that were suspended more than a decade ago.
The Icelandic government unanimously voted in favor of a referendum in March this year.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources42
Leaning Left8Leaning Right9Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution39% Right
Bias Distribution
- 39% of the sources lean Right
39% Right
L 35%
C 26%
R 39%
Factuality
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