Iceland Officially No Longer An EU Accession Nation

The European Union has removed Iceland from the list of countries seeking accession into the EU. This can be confirmed by paying a visit to European Commission’s status page for countries seeking or negotiating for the start of accession talks.

As reported, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragu Sveinsson sent a letter to EU President Edgars Rinkevics in March, informing him that Iceland was no longer seeking to join the EU. However, the move prompted protests.

Further, spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Maja Kocijančič maintained that Gunnar Bragi’s letter doesn’t count.

“We have been saying for the last two years that obviously it’s the prerogative of Iceland to decide – in a free and sovereign decision – how they want to pursue their relationship with the European Union,” Kocijančič told Vísir at the time. “But in our view, the letter in itself does not amount to the withdrawal of the membership application.”

EU officials have said on many occasions, however, that Iceland is welcome to seek accession again and pick up talks where they left off if at any time this or any future government changes its mind.