Icelandic vote on EU membership could be a ‘big moment’ for Ireland – minister

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

It would be a “big moment” for Ireland if Iceland were to vote to restart negotiations to join the European Union, an Irish minister has said.

The Nordic island country is expected to hold a referendum on whether or not to restart talks to join the EU on August 29th.

Iceland applied for EU membership in 2009, but suspended the accession process in 2015 following a change of government.

Its current Government, which came to power in late 2024, has put forward a proposal for a poll on continuing discussions with the EU to Althingi, the Icelandic parliament.

Speaking at a Europe Day event in Dublin on Friday, Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne was asked about the possibility the country might vote in favour of reopening talks.

The Meath East TD said “we have to leave the decision for the people of Iceland” but added “we would very much welcome it”.

The proposed poll is scheduled to take place during the Irish Presidency of the European Council, and Mr Byrne said: “they suspended their negotiations during the last Irish presidency.

“So if they were to restart from there, I think it would be a big moment for us.”

Byrne said he met with his Icelandic counterpart, foreign minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir “just a few weeks ago”.

He said he was able to discuss some concerns Icelanders have including issues on security and defence: “They’re part of Nato, but I explained our position on security and defence, that that is a matter for Ireland, that we have an opt-out on it.”

The Irish language is also a model for how indigenous languages can benefit from EU membership, he said.

“There are concerns in Iceland about the Icelandic language, whether that will survive European Union membership.

“I told them, actually, on the contrary, it will thrive in the European Union.

“I think the Irish language is a great example of that, it has been given new life by membership of the European Union and I would say that to the people of Iceland.”

If the people of Iceland were to vote in favour of restarting negotiations there would also be another referendum on whether the country should join the EU when the talks conclude.

Iceland, which has a population of 393 000, already has close ties with the EU and is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA).

It is also part of the Schengen area which allows guarantees free movement of people between 29 European countries.