Iceland’s Parliament Votes to Hold Referendum on Restarting EU Membership Talks

Iceland had initially applied to join the bloc in 2009, after its banking sector collapsed during the 2008 global financial crisis.

Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir arrives on the day of the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Oct. 2, 2025. Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix/via Reuters

Iceland’s parliament voted on May 28 in favor of holding a national referendum on restarting accession talks with the European Union, which could see the Nordic island join the 27-member bloc before the end of this decade.

The Althingi, Iceland’s parliament, voted in favor of holding the plebiscite on August 29, 2025, months after Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir first raised the prospect of exploring joining the EU.