the accession negotiations process, which I'm certain could address Iceland's specificities". In August 2013 the Icelandic government revealed that it had received a legal opinion that the 2009 Parliamentary vote did not oblige it to continue accession negotiations with the EU. In light of this, the Foreign Ministry stated that it had "decided to consider dissolving the negotiation committee". A few weeks later the committee was officially dissolved. Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson said that "the process has been suspended. But nothing has been closed down." In October 2013 Benediktsson stated that no decision on ending Iceland's membership bid would be made until a report being prepared by the government on negotiations and "the recent changes within the union" was completed, expected to be by the end of 2013. Benediktsson went on to say that "we will see if a proposal will be put before the parliament or not." On 12 March 2015, Foreign Minister of Iceland Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson stated that he had sent a letter to the EU withdrawing the application for membership, without the approval of the Althing, though the European Union stated that Iceland had not formally withdrawn the application. In 2017, Iceland's newly elected government announced that it would hold a vote in parliament on whether to hold a referendum on resuming EU membership negotiations. However, in November 2017 that government was replaced by a coalition of the Independence Party, the Left Green Movement and the Progressive Party; all of whom oppose membership. Only 11 out of 63 MPs are in favour of EU membership. There was a renewed call in 2022 for a referendum on resuming EU membership negotiations. Timeline EU affiliation ahead of membership application 1970-01-01: Iceland joins EFTA. 1992-05-02: Iceland signs EU Association Agreement (entering the EEA). 1994-01-01: EU Association Agreement entry into force. 2001-03-25: Iceland joins the Schengen Area. EU membership application and the preparational phase 2009-07-17: Iceland submits EU membership application. 2009-09-08: European Commission presents legislative questionnaire to Iceland. 2009-10-22: Iceland responds to questionnaire. 2010-02-24: European Commission recommended that the Council open accession negotiations with Iceland. 2010-06-17: Iceland officially recognised as an accession candidate by the European Council. 2010-07-26: The Council approved the framework for accession negotiations with Iceland. 2010-07-27: Preparational phase of the membership negotiation process starts (Accession Conference nr.1). 2010-11-15: Screening process started. 2011-06-21: Screening process ended. EU membership negotiations 2011-06-27: Accession Conference nr.2. Real negotiations started with