22 June 2026Ministry for Foreign AffairsWhat is meant by "resuming accession negotiations"?Although Iceland's accession negotiations were put on hold in 2013, the membership application submitted in 2009 was never formally withdrawn.
What is meant by "resuming accession negotiations"?
AlthoughIceland's accession negotiationswere put on hold in 2013, the membership application submitted in 2009 was never formally withdrawn. The European Commission has confirmed that the application remains valid, as reported in connection with the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Iceland in July 2025.
The validity of Iceland's membership application is covered extensively in amemorandum produced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for the Foreign Affairs Committeein August 2025 (in Icelandic).
See thewebsite of the 2009 - 2013 accession negotiations.