Reykjavik, Iceland. Iceland’s parliament on Thursday voted in favour of holding an August 29 referendum to begin European Union accession talks, backing the government’s two-step plan that could lead to membership in the 27-nation bloc later this decade.
Background
Reykjavik abandoned negotiations in 2013 after four years of talks when a Eurosceptic government took power. Opinion polls have since shown renewed interest in joining the EU, as the cost of living has risen and the war in Ukraine has continued.
Voting process
If voters support the resumption of talks, the final terms of EU membership would require approval in a second referendum. A no vote would end efforts to restart negotiations, the government has said.
Political reaction
Many voters remain uncertain about whether to support EU membership, and may therefore find the two-step process reassuring, said Olafur Thordur Hardarson, a professor of political science at the University of Iceland.
“The large proportion that has not finally decided if they want to join or not, many of them, of course, want the (first) referendum because they want to see exactly what terms would be in a potential agreement,” he said.
Parliamentary result
In the 63-seat national parliament of Iceland, Althingi, 34 members voted for the referendum, eight voted against it, 14 abstained and seven were absent, according to the secretary general of parliament.
EU membership outlook
Membership for Iceland, a nation of about 400,000 people, would extend the EU’s reach far into the North Atlantic Ocean at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to control Greenland, the island between Iceland and the United States.
“Even though Iceland of course is a very small country, putting Iceland on the EU map would sort of have a symbolic advantage,” Hardarson said.
Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir told Reuters in March that she was optimistic Iceland could join the EU as early as 2028 and said fisheries and agriculture would likely be the toughest issues in negotiations.