Iceland’s government proposed August 29th as the date for a referendum on restarting EU accession talks, paused in 2013, amid shifting public opinion.
Iceland Considers EU Membership
The Icelandic government has proposed August 29th as the date for a referendum regarding the resumption of EU accession negotiations, which were halted in 2013 following a change in government to a eurosceptic administration. Minister Gunnarsdottir stated, “We see that it is worth having a voice at the table.”
According to the minister, negotiations should focus on the most challenging issues from the outset, including fisheries, agriculture, and the labor market. She expressed optimism about potential EU entry before the end of 2028 if this approach is adopted.
Growing Support for EU Accession
Recent polls indicate increasing Icelandic interest in EU membership, driven by rising living costs and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Polish Community in Iceland
Notably, Poles constitute the largest national minority in Iceland. In 2025, approximately 30,000 Poles resided in Iceland, representing around 8% of the population. The experiences of Polish citizens on the island are documented in a book by Mirella Wąsiewicz and Aleksandra Kozłowska.
Poles began arriving in Iceland in large numbers in 2006, finding demand for their skills. Mirella Wąsiewicz noted on “Czwórka” radio that while some individuals with criminal backgrounds initially arrived, enthusiasm for Polish workers remained, as they also included IT professionals, civil servants, and multilingual individuals.
Geopolitical Shifts and Ukraine
– Arabs previously did not view Ukraine as a player that could contribute something. Now we see a change – said Serhiy Danylov – Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Center for Middle Eastern Studies in an interview with Wyborcza.pl
Edited by Kamila Cieślik
