Montenegro and Iceland could join EU together in joint accession package

Montenegro Iceland EU accession joint package referendum

European officials say Montenegro and Iceland may become EU members at the same time if Iceland’s referendum on 29 August votes to restart accession negotiations. EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos described Iceland as a “special case” because it already belongs to the European Economic Area and Schengen, and said the renewed talks could last one to two years.

Montenegro has already closed more than half of the 33 negotiation chapters and is targeting EU membership by 2028. A joint package would allow the two countries to be ratified together, with Iceland acting as a net budget contributor that could effectively finance Montenegro’s accession. Montenegro’s European affairs minister Maida Gorčević said Podgorica would gladly link its candidacy with Reykjavik, while Iceland’s foreign minister Torgerdur Katrin Gunarsdottir called the joint approach “absolutely possible.”

Diplomats noted the package could also help secure French support ahead of a possible far‑right presidency in France.

Entities

European Union · Giorgia Meloni · Iceland · Maida Gorčević · Marta Kos · Montenegro · Torgerdur Katrin Gunarsdóttir

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 8 SOURCES] EU officials are open to a joint accession package for Montenegro and Iceland if the referendum votes to restart negotiations. racin.mk · tocka.com.mk · www.portalanalitika.me · expres.mk · savremenapolitika.com · +1 more
[DISPUTED] Iceland will hold a referendum on 29 August to decide whether to restart EU accession negotiations. racin.mk · tocka.com.mk · www.portalanalitika.me · expres.mk · savremenapolitika.com · +1 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Montenegro’s European affairs minister Maida Gorčević wants to link the candidacy with Reykjavik. racin.mk · tocka.com.mk · www.portalanalitika.me · expres.mk · savremenapolitika.com · +1 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Commissioner for enlargement Marta Kos said negotiations could take one to two years. racin.mk · tocka.com.mk · www.portalanalitika.me · expres.mk · savremenapolitika.com · +1 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Iceland would be a net contributor to the EU budget and could finance Montenegro’s membership. racin.mk · tocka.com.mk · www.portalanalitika.me · expres.mk · savremenapolitika.com · +1 more
[● 8 SOURCES] A joint accession could help gain French support ahead of a possible far‑right presidency. racin.mk · tocka.com.mk · www.portalanalitika.me · expres.mk · savremenapolitika.com · +1 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Montenegro has closed more than half of the 33 negotiation chapters. racin.mk · tocka.com.mk · www.portalanalitika.me · expres.mk · savremenapolitika.com · +1 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Montenegro aims to join the EU by 2028. racin.mk · tocka.com.mk · www.portalanalitika.me · expres.mk · savremenapolitika.com · +1 more