Iceland is preparing for a nationwide referendum on resuming negotiations on joining the European Union, which were suspended more than ten years ago, Reuters reports.
Source: Censor.NET
The Icelandic parliament has approved holding a referendum scheduled for August 29. This will be the first stage of a government plan that could return the country to the EU accession negotiation process.
If citizens support the initiative, Iceland will resume negotiations on joining the European Union. If the result is negative, attempts to return to the EU integration process will be halted.
Accession negotiations between Iceland and the EU lasted four years but were suspended in 2013 after a eurosceptic government came to power.
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 Europe’s security situation.
University of Iceland professor Ólafur Þórður Harðarson notes that a significant portion of citizens is still undecided on membership, so a two-stage voting model could help facilitate decision-making.
The Icelandic government proposes holding another referendum after negotiations are completed, in which citizens would evaluate the specific terms of potential membership.
Iceland’s Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir previously stated that the country could theoretically join the European Union as early as 2028. However, fisheries and agriculture remain the most challenging issues.
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