Iceland to vote on restarting EU membership talks frozen since 2013
On 29 August, Iceland holds a referendum on whether to resume talks to join the European Union, which is a group of 27 European countries with shared laws and trade rules.
On 29 August, Iceland holds a referendum on whether to resume talks to join the European Union, which is a group of 27 European countries with shared laws and trade rules.
All 27 member states have agreed to open cluster six of EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova on 14 July, covering foreign, security and defence policy. Four clusters remain blocked, and Budapest is already warning against a 'fast-tracked' timeline.
MEPs have called for a tougher line on Serbia as rule-of-law problems stall its membership talks. But the Parliament cannot open or close a chapter — that power lies with the 27 governments in the Council, acting by unanimity. Here is who decides, by what procedure, and what would have to change before negotiations resume.