Iceland may hold vote in August to restart EU membership talks
Feb 23rd 2026
Reykjavik is considering a referendum to revive accession negotiations frozen in 2013, a move being accelerated amid geopolitical shifts and rising momentum for EU enlargement.
- A referendum to restart EU accession talks could be held as early as August, according to two people familiar with preparations.
- Iceland's coalition had pledged a referendum by 2027 after a previous government froze negotiations in 2013.
- Officials say the timeline is being sped up amid geopolitical developments, including US tariffs on Iceland and past US proposals involving Greenland.
- Brussels is advancing enlargement plans, with proposals that could give Ukraine partial membership next year and Montenegro recently closing another negotiating chapter.