Iceland Prepares For Referendum On EU Membership

• 29.05.2026, 14:42

The referendum will be held on August 29.

Iceland will hold a national referendum on whether to resume European Union accession talks that were suspended more than a decade ago, writes Reuters.

Iceland's parliament has backed a referendum to be held on August 29. The vote will be the first stage of a government plan that could bring the country back into the negotiation process with the EU.

If citizens support the initiative, Iceland will resume EU accession talks. If the majority of voters oppose it, attempts to return to the European integration process will be halted.

Iceland's EU accession negotiations lasted four years, but were suspended in 2013 after a euroskeptic government came to power.

At the same time, recent opinion polls show growing support for EU membership. Among the reasons are the rising cost of living and the impact of the war in Ukraine on the security situation in Europe.

The professor of the University of Iceland Olafur Thordur Hardarson noted that many citizens are still undecided about EU membership, so the two-stage voting system can help them make a decision.

The Icelandic government proposes to hold another referendum after the completion of negotiations, where citizens will assess the specific conditions of membership.