The Diplomat
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares received Iceland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, in Madrid this Friday. He expressed his satisfaction with her government’s decision to propose the resumption of negotiations for EU membership.
During the meeting, held at the ministerial headquarters in the Palacio de Viana, Albares emphasized the “great harmony” with the government of Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir regarding Iceland’s international agenda. “Both countries are staunch defenders and promoters of feminist foreign policy, gender equality, human rights, and multilateralism,” the Ministry emphasized in a press release.
On the other hand, Albares welcomed “very positively” Iceland’s efforts to join the EU and the new government’s proposal for a referendum to resume accession negotiations, “at a time when Europeans need to be more united than ever.”
Iceland is bound to the European Union by the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement, in force since 1994. In June 2011, it began negotiations for its accession treaty to the EU, which are currently suspended. Iceland is part of the Schengen Area.
“Excellent talk about the strong bilateral ties between Iceland and Spain, trade and tourism, security, Ukraine and Gaza, our cooperation in NATO and through the EEA, and our priorities as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, including gender equality and human rights,” the Icelandic minister wrote on social media.
Albares received thanks from the Icelandic minister for the presence of Spanish frigates in NATO’s permanent fleet, and the Spanish minister acknowledged the efforts of Iceland, which, together with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, agreed in Tallinn to disburse €12 billion throughout 2025 to support Ukraine.
The minister also highlighted Iceland’s commitment to the Middle East, having recognized the State of Palestine in 2011, and welcomed the fact that, in March 2024, it would resume contributions to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
