Rabat – Icelandic voters rejected a proposal to restart negotiations on joining the European Union, putting the country’s long-running membership debate on hold once again.
According to the Associated Press, official tallies showed that opponents of reopening EU membership talks won 52.8% of the vote compared with 47.2% for supporters. The National Electoral Commission recorded an 82.6% turnout, with more than 225,000 ballots cast.
Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir said her government would respect the referendum result and would not move forward with EU accession talks, while leaving open the possibility of revisiting the issue if the geopolitical situation changes significantly.
Under Icelandic law, the non-binding referendum concerned only whether the government should resume accession talks with Brussels. Even if approved, a second, binding public vote would still have been required before Iceland could formally join the bloc.
Fisheries drive opposition
Iceland’s influential fishing industry led opposition to the referendum, warning that joining the bloc could reduce national control over its fishing waters under the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy and open them to other European trawlers.
Marine exports worth roughly $2.5 billion (MAD 23.2 billion) were recorded in 2024, according to Statistics Iceland, reflecting the industry’s economic importance in a country where control over fishing waters is deeply tied to national identity.
Opponents argued that Iceland already benefits from European integration through access to the EU single market and the Schengen free-travel zone without the sovereignty compromises of full membership.
Meanwhile, supporters said joining the bloc could lower inflation and interest rates, while replacing the volatile Icelandic króna with the euro would bring greater economic stability.
Greenland threats add security concerns
The referendum came amid growing security concerns in the North Atlantic following US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to take control of nearby Greenland.
Supporters of renewed EU talks argued that closer European ties could provide the country with additional political protection despite its long-standing NATO membership
The referendum was brought forward from next year after Trump repeatedly confused Iceland with Greenland while discussing his ambitions for the territory, drawing further attention to Iceland’s strategic position in the North Atlantic.
Iceland’s EU debate dates back to the 2008 financial crisis. The country applied for membership in 2009 and opened accession talks in 2010 before suspending them in 2013, with the government later asking the EU in 2015 not to consider Iceland a candidate country.
