The government of Iceland intends to propose a referendum in the country's parliament this fall, asking whether negotiations for EU membership should be resumed. The public broadcaster RUV reported that a bill will be presented next week to facilitate this process, with the referendum likely set for the end of September. This significant political development comes after years of stalled negotiations since Reykjavik withdrew from talks in 2013 after four years of discussions.

The renewed interest in EU membership has been fueled by rising living costs and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, both of which have shifted public opinion in Iceland toward favoring EU membership. Recent polling indicates that these issues, coupled with external pressures such as the alarming remarks from former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the potential annexation of Greenland, have intensified the urgency of reassessing Iceland's stance on EU accession.

Iceland's Prime Minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, had previously indicated that the referendum would occur within the coming months, demonstrating the government’s responsiveness to public sentiment on this matter. The potential resumption of negotiations marks a notable turn in Iceland’s foreign policy and could have significant implications for its relationship with both the EU and the United States.