Iceland is prepared to join the European Union (EU) within 18 months if the nation votes to resume membership negotiations in an upcoming referendum, the country's foreign minister has announced.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Foreign Minister Thorgardur Katrin Gunnarsdottir shared these details during an interview with Politico. The minister emphasized that if a positive decision is reached in the referendum scheduled for August 29, the process of joining the bloc will be completed exceptionally quickly.
Gunnarsdottir noted that Iceland has the potential to become the 28th member of the union, potentially overtaking Montenegro, which is currently considered the frontrunner among candidate countries.
"By holding the August referendum, we are transferring power to the people. I believe that conducting negotiations now, rather than two years later, would be beneficial for both Iceland and the European Union," the minister emphasized.
The potential accession of Iceland comes at a time of renewed expansion discussions within the European Union. While Brussels recently indicated intentions to conclude membership talks with Ukraine by the end of 2027, Iceland's existing alignment with EU standards through the European Economic Area (EEA) provides a unique advantage for a fast-track process. Historically, Iceland applied for EU membership in 2009 but later suspended the process in 2015; however, shifting geopolitical dynamics and economic considerations have brought the debate back to the forefront of the country's foreign policy agenda.
