Iceland voted against restarting negotiations to join the European Union, 13 years after the country suspended its previous membership talks.
According to Icelandic public broadcaster RUV, 52.8% of voters rejected the government’s proposal, while 47.2% supported it. More than 225,000 people voted, with approximately 12,600 votes separating the two sides.
The referendum was held on Saturday and recorded a turnout of 82.5%, the highest recorded in an Icelandic election since 2009.
Prime minister Kristrún Frostadóttir The center-left government had initially promised to hold the referendum by 2027, but brought it forward amid growing international security concerns, including US President Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland.
However, the debate largely focused on Iceland’s fishing industry, which remains an important part of the country’s economy.
Fishing rights were one of the main obstacles when Iceland previously attempted EU membership. The country’s fishing and marine industries account for almost 40% of its exports, and many voters feared that EU membership could reduce Iceland’s control over its fishing waters.
Iceland applied to join the EU in 2009 following the financial crisis and the collapse of its banking system. Negotiations advanced significantly before a eurosceptic government came to power in 2013 and suspended the process.
Although Iceland is already part of the European single market and border-free Schengen area, EU membership would take the country into the bloc’s customs union and, eventually, the eurozone.
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The referendum also highlighted a divide between urban and rural voters. Reykjavík was largely supportive of resuming negotiations, while rural areas were more likely to oppose the proposal.
The result does not permanently prevent Iceland from seeking future EU membership. A “Yes” vote would only have restarted accession negotiations, and any eventual membership agreement would require another referendum.
Security concerns also figured in the campaign. Iceland is a founding member of NATO, but does not have its own army and depends on allies for its defense. The government has expressed concern about Russia’s increased maritime activity in the region and has supported Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion.
Trump’s interest in Greenland also raised concerns about security in the Arctic.
Following the result, Iceland’s Foreign Minister Katrín Gunnarsdóttir said the country would seek to strengthen its defense relations with other nations.
The result of the referendum was welcomed by Eurosceptic politicians in other European countries. Britain’s reformist leader Nigel Farage said Icelanders had voted to “maintain their independence”, while France’s Marine Le Pen said the result showed that EU membership was not necessarily the preferred option for all European democracies.
(BBC News)
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