Iceland officially became Eurocontrol’s 42nd member state on 1 January 2025, exactly a decade since the last member state accession.
Eurocontrol is an international organisation that works to achieve safe and seamless air traffic management across Europe. Eurocontrol was founded in founded in 1963 and has 42 member states.
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 for over 25 years closely cooperating on the aviation front with Eurocontrol.
Iceland has been participating as an observer in the meetings of Eurocontrol’s Provisional Council since 1998, to create process with working arrangements, tools and services. This process intensified in 2022 with the signature of the Transitional Agreement, a major milestone that paved the way for today’s full membership.
Throughout, Iceland and Eurocontrol have been working closely on the operational level of network matters – exchanging data, coordinating traffic flows and liaising on airspace issues, most notably during the Eyjafjallajökull eruption of 2010.
Raúl Medina, director general of Eurocontrol said, “The accession of Iceland is testament to the 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 sincere thanks to all those who have helped to make this key step possible – my Eurocontrol team as well as all our partners at ICETRA, Isavia ANS, the Icelandic Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among many others.”
Jón Gunnar Jónsson, director general of the Icelandic Transport Authority 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.”
The last member state to join Euroconotrl was Estonia in 2015.