The Icelandic government is in the process of preparing a resolution that would pave the way for a referendum on whether the country should resume negotiations for European Union (EU) membership. This was confirmed by Egirs Tors Eisteinson, a representative of the Icelandic Foreign Ministry, to the AFP news agency on Thursday. The exact date for when this proposal will be made to Parliament has not yet been determined, although it is anticipated that a formal proposal will be presented during the upcoming spring parliamentary session, which typically sees discussions intensify as the summer recess approaches, usually starting in June.

According to the current coalition agreement, the vote on whether to continue the talks for Iceland's EU membership must take place by the end of 2027. Iceland first applied for EU membership in 2009 under a left-leaning government. Membership talks began in 2010 but were suspended three years later following parliamentary elections. The government then withdrew Iceland's application in 2015 after a shift to a center-right administration, highlighting the fluctuating political landscape and divergent opinions on the EU among Iceland's various political parties.

The potential referendum is significant as it reflects not only Iceland's internal political debates but also the broader discussions within the European Union regarding member states' alignments and the future of EU enlargement. As the Icelandic population deliberates the implications of EU membership, this referendum could serve as a critical juncture for Iceland's long-term economic and political strategy in the context of regional cooperation and integration.