In terms of air navigation, Iceland is already well integrated into Europe through membership in the European Economic Area, the Schengen Area and EFTA, the European Free Trade Association, and has been closely cooperating with Eurocontrol for more than 25 years.
Iceland has participated as an observer in meetings of Eurocontrol’s Provisional Council since 1998, a familiarisation process with the organisation’s working arrangements, tools and ser-vices that intensified in 2022 with the signature of the Transitional Agreement, a major milestone that paved the way for full membership.
Throughout, Iceland and Eurocontrol have been working closely together at the operational level on network matters – exchanging data, coordinating traffic flows and liaising on airspace matters, most notably during the Eyjafjallajökull eruption of 2010.
“It is with genuine pleasure that I welcome Iceland as our 42nd member state. The accession of Iceland is testament to the huge amount of work that has happened on both sides since the formal exchange of letters in August 2020 launching the accession process.
“It is excellent news for the agency, and for the European aviation network as a whole. My sin-cere thanks to all those who have helped to make this key step possible – my Eurocontrol team as well as all our partners at [The Icelandic Transport Authority] ICETRA, Isavia ANS, the Icelandic Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among many others,” said Eurocontrol director general Raúl Medina.
His sentiments were echoed by Jón Gunnar Jónsson, director general of The Icelandic Transport Authority. He said: “Geographically positioned at a crossroads between continents, aviation and air navigation are vitally important for Iceland, acting as a key economic driver of growth and prosperity, as well as comprising the primary mode of transport across borders. Joining Eurocontrol marks a logical step and is testimony to our long standing cooperation. We look forward to working even closer in the years ahead as a core member of the Eurocontrol family.”
