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Why so many countries want to join the EU, except Europe’s richest

Nine candidate countries are racing to get into the European Union. Three of Europe’s wealthiest democracies are doing everything they can to stay out. Is the EU’s pull weaker on the continent’s richest?

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Iceland said ‘No’ to EU membership talks. What does it mean?

Icelanders voted to keep their stalled EU membership bid on ice, dealing a blow to Brussels' post-Ukraine enlargement drive. Watch the video!

Europe News

The EU gave Iceland the silent treatment. It didn't work, again

Brussels stayed mostly silent during Iceland's referendum campaign, which ended with 52.8% voting against resuming EU accession talks, echoing its muted response to Brexit a decade earlier.

Europe News

Montenegro is approaching EU membership. Serbia may try to stop it

Montenegro leads the EU accession race, but Serbia may try to spoil the process to protect Belgrade's regional influence and avoid awkward questions about its own progress, officials tell Euronews.

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What does Iceland’s “No” vote mean for the EU’s enlargement policy?

Iceland won’t reopen EU membership negotiations after 58.2 percent voted against in Saturday’s referendum. Does this challenge whether the EU can still attract stable, wealthy democracies for reasons beyond finances?

Europe News

Iceland’s 'no' vote deals a blow to Brussels’ security pitch

Iceland rejected reopening EU membership, dealing a blow to Brussels' hope that security fears could draw wealthy neighbours closer to the bloc.

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Why does the EU want to enlarge? Ask the Euronews AI chatbot

Iceland has voted against reopening EU membership talks, with 52.8 percent rejecting the government's proposal. This comes as the EU wants to expand and strengthen unity. But why does the EU want to enlarge? Ask the Euronews AI chatbot.

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Does the EU need more member states?

After Iceland voted ‘no’ to joining the EU, what’s the status of European enlargement? Nine candidate countries are waiting in line, but so far none is as close to accession as Iceland would have been.

Europe News

EU offers muted reaction after Iceland rebuffs accession talks

The EU institutions say they fully respect the choice of the Icelandic people after voters said "no" to reopening accession negotiations. The result threatens to dampen the momentum on enlargement policy.

Europe News

Iceland says 'No': Four takeaways from the EU accession referendum

Iceland has voted 52.8% to 47.2% against resuming accession negotiations with the European Union, effectively closing the door on membership. Here are the four takeaways from the referendum.

Europe News

Iceland's rejection of accession talks is major blow to EU enlargement

The "No" vote in the referendum to reopen accession talks could be seen as a political message to Brussels: the burdens of EU membership outweigh the benefits – at least in the public's view.

Europe News

Iceland EU referendum: 'No' vote has almost unassailable 52.5% lead

Iceland's EU referendum is on a knife-edge as rural constituencies are leaning decisively for 'No' while Reykjavík's two constituencies lean solidly 'Yes' with just one constituency left to announce results.

Europe News

Iceland's EU referendum sees high preliminary voter turnout

In Reykjavík, voter turnout was higher by noon than at the same time during the 2024 parliamentary election, local media reported.

Europe News

Iceland goes to the polls in high-stakes EU referendum

Icelanders vote today on whether to resume EU membership talks in a high-stakes referendum. Polls show the race is too close to call, with a slim Yes lead eroding in the final stretch. Results are expected early on Sunday.

Europe News

How Canada’s turn toward Europe might test the EU's borders

The boundaries of the EU are inevitably informed by geography – but Canada, which shares the EU’s values and its vision of the world order, could challenge the bloc’s limits and open the door to a new form of association with Brussels.

Europe News

Polls too close to call in Iceland's pivotal EU membership referendum

The gap between the two camps appears to be steadily closing ahead of Saturday's vote.

Europe News

If Iceland joins the EU, where does that leave Norway?

On Saturday, Icelanders will vote on whether to resume negotiations to join the European Union. A “Yes” could squeeze Norway’s position in the European Economic Area and put Oslo under pressure to reconsider its own relationship with Brussels — a question with a long and divisive history.

Europe News

Canada wants to get closer to the EU - but how far can it go?

In the midst of a trade war with the US, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney will attend Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union speech in Strasbourg on 16 September, with a summit between Ottawa and Brussels to follow. However, EU membership is not an option.

Europe News

EU’s Kos sets out new path for enlargement to break impasse

The EU enlargement boss sets out four areas for discussion: internal reforms without treaty changes, stronger democratic safeguards, a gradual integration methodology and encompassing transitional measures.

Europe News

Iceland's reckoning moment: What the referendum means for the EU

Iceland votes Saturday on resuming EU membership talks. A "Yes" would restart negotiations with Brussels, with fisheries likely to emerge as the key sticking point. A "No" could provide a setback for the EU's enlargement drive.