Iceland’s prime minister says her country will hold a national referendum “in the coming months” on restarting negotiations for joining the European Union.
Kristrun Frostadottir disclosed the plan at a news conference on Wednesday. She said, “In the coming months, we are going to have a referendum on opening up the negotiations” on possibly joining the EU.
The Nordic country had initially begun talks with the EU after the 2008 global financial crisis. This followed growing calls that the move would help rebuild the Icelandic economy.
But the negotiations were put on hold in 2013 as the then administration was cautious about joining.
The current coalition government, which was launched in December 2024, had previously announced a plan to hold a referendum no later than 2027.
Media reports say the changing security environment in Europe may be one reason why Iceland’s leader is speeding up the process. They cite such factors as Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and threats by US President Donald Trump to annex the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland.