Iceland proposes August 29 referendum on resuming EU membership talks

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

60% : "In a world of competing spheres of influence, EU membership offers an anchor into a bloc grounded in values, prosperity and security.
56% : The North Atlantic island submitted an EU membership application in 2009, a year after the stunning collapse of its financial sector.
55% : Iceland's objectives with EU membership were "to ensure Icelandic control over our resources... to secure economic and social justice, to examine how we can strengthen our defences, not only stability but economic and other forms of security, in connection with being potential members of the European Union.
51% : "We intend to ask the nation the following question: 'Should negotiations on Iceland's accession to the European Union continue?'
51% : " If given a mandate to resume talks, the completed chapters would be reviewed and updated in line with developments, she added. Frostadottir also noted that the world had changed since Iceland last engaged in EU membership talks.
50% : An opinion poll published in early February by public broadcaster RUV indicated that the Icelandic public was evenly divided on the question of EU membership.
49% : The European Union's enlargement chief Marta Kos on Friday said Iceland was set for a "significant decision" with its referendum.
43% : "We are seeing very significant interference by Russia in states that are, among other things, leaning toward the European Union.
40% : Iceland's government on Friday proposed that a referendum be held on August 29 on resuming the country's EU membership talks after they were terminated in 2015.

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