Iceland's referendum on reopening EU accession negotiations demonstrates the growing attractiveness of EU membership in an increasingly volatile geopolitical and economic landscape. Icelandic accession would give the bloc a stronger North Atlantic and Arctic presence. On Aug. 29, Iceland will hold a referendum on whether to reopen accession negotiations with the European Union, in a contest that polls suggest will be tight. When it took office in December 2024, the center-left coalition of Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir had pledged to hold such a vote, asking voters whether the government should resume the membership talks, previously suspended in 2013. Recent surveys give the "Yes" side a lead of 3-4% among decided voters, with the gap inside the margin of error and around 15% of the electorate still undecided.