Iceland Rejects EU Membership Talks in Referendum
Voters secure majority against accession, maintaining current ties to single market and Schengen zone.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Callum Smith
Iceland has rejected EU membership talks following a national referendum.
A 'yes' vote would not have constituted a final decision on joining the EU; it would have merely served as a preliminary step towards an accession agreement, which would then necessitate approval in a second referendum.
Iceland remains a part of the EU's single market and the Schengen free-travel zone, despite the recent vote.
The Icelandic government will hold a press conference on Sunday at 1pm to present its plans following the referendum.
Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir's centre-left government had pledged to hold a referendum by 2027 but reportedly brought it forward due to escalating international tensions.
These tensions included US President Donald Trump's threats against Greenland, which reportedly drove some voters to favor European solidarity.
Trump reportedly mistakenly named Iceland four times while speaking about his designs on Greenland.
The government had framed its membership plan as a 'now or never' moment, asserting it would shield the nation from trade wars and Arctic rivalry.
Opponents, spearheaded by the influential fishing industry, reportedly defeated the measure by a margin of 52.8% to 47.2%.
The fishing industry reportedly led opposition out of fear that the bloc's common fisheries policy would allow Spanish, Dutch, and other trawlers into its valuable waters.
Fish and marine industries account for almost 40% of Iceland's exports.
Opponents claimed EU membership would sacrifice sovereignty and open national waters to foreign trawlers.
Supporters, however, claimed joining the EU would bring economic stability, lower inflation, and strengthen ties with European partners.
This is a great day. We've been waiting for this for years to be able to have a vote.
Backers of EU membership also claimed it would lower inflation and interest rates, and that the euro would bring more stability than Iceland's volatile króna.
They further claimed it was in the nation's interest to get closer to its European neighbors to tackle issues that do not respect borders, such as climate change.
Iceland is a founder member of Nato and reportedly has no military.
The nation won its independence from Denmark in 1944.
Kristrun Frostadottir stated, "This is a great day. We've been waiting for this for years to be able to have a vote."