Iceland prepares for EU referendum as leaders outline terms and launch public tour

Icelandic officials are intensifying preparations ahead of the national referendum on resuming European Union accession negotiations, scheduled for August 29.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir has scheduled a nationwide tour comprising nine town hall meetings to gather voter feedback across the country. The tour will commence in Reykjanesbær and finish in Reykjavík on August 26, shortly before citizens head to the polls.

In parallel, Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir clarified the government's position in a broadcast interview, stating that retaining full autonomy and control over Iceland's fisheries is an indispensable condition for any eventual agreement. Gunnarsdóttir added that domestic agriculture, particularly concerning food security and animal welfare standards, must also be protected during any future negotiations with the bloc.

Sources: Morgunblaðið, Vísir