Iceland Plans a Vote on EU Talks in the Coming Months

The Icelandic government has announced that it will hold a public vote to decide whether the country should begin talks about joining the European Union. The decision, said by Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir during a press conference in Warsaw, will take place sometime within the next few months, although no exact date has been set yet. The announcement came while Frostadóttir was speaking with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who welcomed the idea and highlighted Poland’s own successful path into the EU. Tusk stressed that the Union should respect each member’s unique identity, especially for a small Arctic nation like Iceland. Both leaders agreed that any move toward membership must balance integration with the preservation of national culture and resources. Frostadóttir noted that Iceland’s distinct way of life and its Arctic environment should be central to any negotiation.Tusk referenced the United Kingdom’s experience with Brexit, noting that public opinion in Britain has shifted toward favoring EU membership after the initial split. He suggested this as evidence that joining the Union can be beneficial, even if it requires some flexibility from the EU itself. In response, Frostadóttir said her government would listen to the will of Icelanders while also respecting their cultural identity. She thanked Tusk for acknowledging these concerns and expressed hope that a fair and inclusive process would follow. The discussion also touched on Iceland’s significant Polish community, which numbers around 30, 000 people. Frostadóttir mentioned the contributions of this group and shared a light-hearted moment when she received a popular Polish chocolate wafer as a gift. The upcoming referendum will follow a formal proposal that is expected to be drafted early next spring. Once approved by parliament, the government will have nine months to organize the vote. Recent polls show a narrow margin in favor of EU membership, indicating that the decision could swing either way.