L’Unione Europea sembra a nord

The European Union Looks North

Aug 15, 2025

Roderick Kefferpütz and Villy Søvndal

Recent geopolitical developments – from Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine to US President Donald Trump’s antagonism toward NATO – are fueling support for EU accession in Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. While northern enlargement would not happen quickly, EU leaders should start laying the groundwork for it.

BRUSSELS – “There are 12 countries on the waiting list to become members of the European Union,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyensaid in April. Commission staff quickly reached out to her cabinet with a correction: there are only ten EU candidate countries, they noted, including Kosovo. But von der Leyen’s team responded that there was no mistake; Iceland and Norway are on her list. In fact, the accession of northern European countries to the EU is looking increasingly attractive to both sides.

The idea of northern EU enlargement is hardly radical. Northern European countries are already deeply integrated with the EU, through the European Economic Area and Schengen. But so far, they have eschewed membership in the Union. While Iceland opened accession negotiations in 2010, it suspended the process five years later. Norway has held two referenda on EU membership, but “no” won narrowly both times. Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, was part of the European Communities until 1985, when it voted to withdraw following a dispute over fishing rights.

From a Norwegian perspective, the largest issue we have with EU is the energy policy. We used to have very cheap electricity but due to more interconnections and higher prices in our neghbor countries people feel like the only thing we get from participating in ACER is higher prices. 

There are also fishing rights and some very restrictive agricultural imports which plays a role, but that is less of a thing now than before as people are seeing lower food prices outside Norway. 

Damn id let the eu in the hands of the nordic contries tbh

The EU should not pressure Norway to join.

We have a great relationship with them and a deal favourable for the EU, that also provides Norwegian citizens with most boons of the EU.

Norway joining the EU is primarily a matter of European unity and when and how should be done, must be the choice of Norwegian citizens.

I always thought Iceland were in the EU for some reason