Icelanders have until August 29 to decide whether their country should resume accession negotiations with the European Union. Brussels is closely monitoring this referendum, which could offer the European project a symbolic victory after more than a decade without a new member state joining the EU.
Iceland submitted its application in 2009, following the financial crisis that severely impacted its economy. Negotiations were subsequently abandoned in 2015. The issue has resurfaced in the debate with the tensions surrounding Greenland and the threats from Donald Trump , which have reignited security concerns in this nation of 400,000 inhabitants.
A candidate already very close to the European Union
Iceland appears to be a relatively easy candidate to integrate, as it already belongs to the Schengen Area and the European Economic Area. It therefore applies a large part of EU legislation. A poll published at the end of July placed the "yes" vote on resuming negotiations in the lead with approximately 53% of voting intentions.
Brussels is remaining discreet, however, so as not to be accused of interference. Should the "yes" vote prevail, discussions are expected to primarily stall on the issue of fishing, a sector crucial to the Icelandic economy. The European Union criticizes Reykjavik for overfishing, while Icelandic authorities promise to firmly defend their quotas.
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