The political climate in both Iceland and Brussels has become more receptive to this in recent times.
The renewed talks begin with agreements on security, defence, and ocean management. For example, a new memorandum has been signed on fisheries and maritime cooperation. Both parties want to better protect their critical infrastructure and combat illegal activities at sea. Iceland remains an important NATO partner, and the cooperation with the EU is meant to build on that, it is said.
Previous accession negotiations between Iceland and the EU were suspended in 2015. The main objection from the Icelandic side was the protection of their national fisheries sector. Many Icelanders feared that EU membership would lead to a loss of control over their fishing grounds, which are of great economic and symbolic importance to the country.
According to the Icelandic government, the situation has since changed. The European energy crisis and the worsened security threat posed by Russia have influenced thinking in Reykjavik. In addition, public support for closer cooperation with the EU has increased, giving the government room to reconsider the EU path.
Icelandic Minister of Industry Hanna Katrín Friðriksson calls the renewed talks a "first step" and emphasizes that the willingness to cooperate with Europe is growing. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Iceland's original application for EU membership is still valid. She called Iceland an "essential partner" and expressed her support for further cooperation.
Although no formal accession negotiations have been announced yet, reopening the accession dossier is back on the table. At the same time, sensitivities surrounding the fisheries sector remain. Negotiations on that matter will be decisive for the further progress of the process.