According to reporting by Politico, the nations of Iceland and Montenegro could potentially join the European Union concurrently in 2028, contingent upon Iceland holding a referendum in August to recommence membership negotiations. The report highlighted comments from the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, who characterized Iceland as a “special case.” This designation stems from Iceland’s existing participation in both the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Schengen Area. Commissioner Kos suggested that should Iceland decide to restart negotiations after August 29, the process could be extended for an estimated period of one to two years.
This potential trajectory would place Iceland in a negotiating standing comparable to that of Montenegro. Montenegro is currently pursuing EU membership while having temporarily suspended more than half of the 33 required negotiation chapters. The prospect of a joint accession suggests a coordinated effort or a synchronized readiness from both nations to meet the EU’s accession criteria.
The timing of the referendum in Iceland is presented as the critical trigger point for these discussions to advance toward a potential 2028 integration. The article frames this possibility as a direct result of ongoing EU enlargement discussions, emphasizing the procedural steps required for both Iceland and Montenegro to achieve full membership status.
Topics: #iceland #politico #montenegro
