**Iceland has formally applied to join the European Union, the Swedish government has announced.**Iceland’s Foreign Minister, Ossur Skarphedinsson, handed over the request to his Swedish counterpart, Carl Bildt, during a ceremony in Stockholm.
Sweden currently holds the EU’s rotating six-month presidency.
Last week, Iceland’s parliament voted to join the 27-state bloc. The bid must now be approved by the EU, after which Icelanders vote on it in a referendum.
“This is the day when I have the historic duty to hand in formally the Icelandic application to the European Union,” Mr Skarphedinsson said at the ceremony in the Swedish foreign ministry on Thursday.
Mr Bildt said that having Iceland within the EU would enhance its “Nordic dimension”.