What would EU membership mean for security and defence?

What would EU membership mean for security and defence?

With EU membership, Iceland would become a party to the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), the European Defence Fund (EDF), and the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP).

The Main pillars of Iceland's defence would remain NATO membership and the bilateral defence agreement with the United States. 23 of the 27 EU Member States are also NATO members. EU membership would not affect how Iceland oprates within NATO.

In recent years, Iceland has increased its cooperation in the field of security and defence with other European nations. In this regard, it is worth noting the Security and Defence Partnership between Iceland and the European Union, signed in March this year, as well as the Joint Statement between Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the European Union on Strengthening EEA Foreign and Security Policy Cooperation, signed in March 2025.