‘Fishing, sovereignty and economic policy’: Why Icelandic voters rejected EU membership in referendum | Today’s news

Icelandic voters rejected a proposal to resume membership talks with the European Union, with 52.8% voting against resuming talks and 47.2% voting in favor, according to final results published by public broadcaster RUV and cited by AFP.

The referendum took place on Saturday, more than a decade after Iceland’s earlier EU accession talks were suspended. The result is expected to put the long-running membership debate on hold, with AFP reporting that the issue is unlikely to return to Iceland’s political agenda until at least 2028.

The referendum asked roughly 265,000 eligible voters a simple question: whether Iceland should resume EU accession negotiations.

The proposal was supported by Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir, who proposed a referendum that was originally planned for next year. According to an AP report, the government moved up in the vote due to heightened geopolitical tensions and US President Donald Trump’s repeated references to nearby Greenland, which he also mistakenly refers to as Iceland.

Why did Iceland reject the proposal?

Fishing has emerged as one of the strongest arguments against resuming accession talks with the EU. Iceland’s influential fishing industry has opposed membership over concerns that joining the bloc could subject its waters to the EU’s common fisheries policy and potentially allow fishing fleets from other European countries greater access.

According to AFP, about 90% of companies in Iceland’s fishing industry opposed EU membership.

Fishing also has strong historical and national significance in Iceland. The country won a series of disputes with Britain in the 1970s, known as the Cod Wars, over fishing rights.

Opponents have also argued that Iceland already enjoys many of the economic benefits associated with closer European integration without being a member of the EU. The country is part of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Schengen Free Travel Zone, giving it access to the EU’s single market while retaining more control over areas such as fisheries.

They also argued that Iceland could pursue its own trade deals and retain greater national sovereignty rather than having its voice represented in a larger European Parliament.

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What were the arguments for EU membership?

Proponents of renewed negotiations argued that closer integration with the EU could bring economic and financial benefits.

They say EU membership could help lower inflation and interest rates, and that adopting the euro could provide more monetary stability than Iceland’s unstable krona.

Supporters also argued that closer ties with European neighbors would help Iceland tackle cross-border issues such as climate change.

The geopolitical environment also appeared in the debate. Iceland is a member of NATO, and some supporters have argued that closer ties with European countries could provide additional solidarity amid concerns over Trump’s repeated statements about taking control of Greenland.

What happens after a “No” vote?

The referendum was technically non-binding, but the Icelandic government said it would respect the result, according to AFP.

If voters back the proposal, Iceland would restart negotiations with the European Commission on areas including the economy and human rights. Any eventual membership deal would still require approval in another referendum. Refusal means that these negotiations will not be renewed.

Frostadóttir has previously said that if voters reject the proposal, the issue of EU membership will not return to the political agenda during her current mandate, which runs until 2028.

The government may also leave it to parliament to decide whether Iceland should formally withdraw its existing application for EU membership.

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Failure for Brussels?

The result is also a setback for the European Union, which was interested in bringing Iceland back into the accession process.

AFP reported that Brussels appeared willing to take a conciliatory approach on difficult issues, particularly fisheries, in an effort to facilitate Iceland’s membership.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kosova said Iceland’s specific circumstances in fisheries and agriculture would need to be carefully considered.

The EU also considered Iceland’s membership potentially significant for its presence in the strategic Arctic region and as a possible example of successful enlargement.

However, the 52.8% to 47.2% result means Icelanders have decided to keep their country outside the EU for the time being, while maintaining existing economic and travel ties with the bloc.