Iceland and Norway may overtake Ukraine on the path to the EU — Politico
The European Union is considering the possibility of admitting new, economically developed members, which could significantly alter the bloc’s expansion plans.
This is reported by Politico.
The full-scale war in Ukraine and Washington’s shift in policy have forced stable countries such as Iceland and Norway to seriously reconsider their non-aligned status.
Due to geopolitical instability, wealthy European states are seeking protection within the unified structure of Brussels. This creates a new dynamic where countries with an established legislative framework become priority candidates for current members of the bloc.
“EU membership has always offered stability and prosperity to European countries. Now we see that those outside the EU are increasingly realizing that, in a world of competing influences, a seat at the EU negotiating table also offers enhanced security and protection,” emphasized EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.
The catalyst for these processes has been the policy pursued by U.S. President Donald Trump since his return to the White House in 2025.
European leaders fear a weakening of transatlantic ties, which is forcing them to rally around a common economic and security hub.
“Now is not the best time to act alone; Trump is changing everything,” a Norwegian official noted in a comment, pointing to the need for consolidation.
Iceland has already stepped up preparations for a referendum, which could put it first in line to resume accession talks.
For Brussels, the accession of wealthy countries is financially more advantageous than the integration of Eastern European states, particularly Ukraine, Moldova, or the countries of the Balkan Peninsula.
New wealthy members will not seek subsidies; on the contrary, they will contribute to the EU’s common budget.
“These financial considerations mean it will be difficult to convince current members that these poorer countries should be admitted. Existing members will receive an even smaller share of EU funds,” analysts note in the Politico article.
In addition to finances, the political predictability of potential partners is a key factor, as Brussels seeks to avoid internal crises.
European diplomats fear the emergence of new authoritarian regimes within the bloc that could block joint decisions.
“We don’t want a repeat of Hungary or Slovakia. We don’t know what will happen in these new countries in 10–15 years. And then we might find ourselves in a situation where we have another Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán,” one diplomat shares his concerns.
In contrast, Oslo and Reykjavik have established democratic institutions and are already integrated into the common market through special agreements.
This allows them to qualify for the fastest possible accession process, as they have already met most of the requirements in advance.
As a reminder, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that Ukraine will not be able to become an EU member before 2027.
The European Commission is also preparing to provide Ukraine with a loan despite Hungary’s opposition.
