Minister says Icelandic EU membership vote could be big moment for Ireland

Ireland would see it as a “big moment” if Iceland votes to resume negotiations on joining the European Union, Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne has said, as Reykjavik moves toward a fresh decision on its stalled membership bid.

The Nordic island nation is expected to hold a referendum on 29 August on whether to reopen talks on entering the EU.

Iceland first applied for membership in 2009, before the accession process was suspended in 2015 after a change of government.

Its current administration, which took office in late 2024, has now submitted a proposal to Althingi, the Icelandic parliament, seeking a public vote on whether negotiations with the EU should continue.

The Meath East TD said: “We have to leave the decision for the people of Iceland,” though he added that “we would very much welcome it”.

The proposed referendum is due to fall during Ireland’s Presidency of the European Council, a point Mr Byrne noted as symbolically significant. “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.”

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

During that meeting, he said, he had the opportunity to address some of the issues troubling Icelandic voters, including questions around 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.”

He also said the Irish language offers a clear example of how indigenous languages can be strengthened, rather than weakened, through EU membership.

“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 Icelandic voters back a return to negotiations, the country would still face a second referendum on full EU membership once those talks are complete.

Iceland, with a population of 393 000, already maintains close links with the EU through its membership of the European Economic Area.

It also belongs to the Schengen area, which guarantees free movement of people across 29 European countries.