Iceland has rejected a proposal to reopen negotiations on joining the European Union, bringing the country’s long-running membership debate to an end for at least the next two years.
The final count showed 118,040 voters, or 52.8 per cent, opposed resuming talks, while 105,399, or 47.2 per cent, supported the proposal. Turnout was 82.5 per cent, with 225,031 ballots cast.
The referendum, held on Saturday, asked voters whether Iceland should restart accession negotiations with Brussels. It did not decide whether the country would ultimately join the EU, and any eventual membership agreement would have required a separate public vote.
The result is a setback for Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir’s centre-left government, which had argued that the changing international situation justified revisiting the question. The vote took place against a backdrop of heightened concern over Arctic security, the war in Ukraine and Donald Trump’s repeated ambitions for Greenland.
Frostadóttir had described the referendum as an opportunity for Icelanders to decide whether to examine the terms of possible membership. She said before the final result was known that she hoped the campaign would not leave the country divided.
The count initially pointed towards a narrow victory for the pro-EU side, helped by strong support in the capital. As results from rural and coastal areas came in, however, the balance shifted decisively towards the opposition.
Reykjavik was the only part of Iceland where a majority voted in favour of reopening negotiations. The proposal was rejected in all four other constituencies, with the strongest opposition recorded in the north-west, where 62.9 per cent voted against it.
Fishing was central to the No campaign. Opponents warned that joining the EU could expose Iceland’s fishing grounds to the bloc’s common fisheries policy and allow vessels from other member states greater access to its waters. The industry has long been closely linked to Iceland’s national identity and economy.
Those campaigning for closer ties said membership could provide greater economic stability, including lower interest rates and eventual access to the euro. They also argued that Iceland would have greater influence when dealing with shared challenges such as climate change, trade and security.
Iceland applied to join the EU in 2009, after the financial crisis placed severe pressure on its economy. Formal negotiations began the following year, but a Eurosceptic government suspended the process in 2013 and later asked Brussels not to treat the country as an EU candidate.
Despite rejecting renewed talks, Iceland will remain closely connected to the bloc. It is part of the European Economic Area, giving it access to the EU single market, and belongs to the passport-free Schengen area. Agriculture and fisheries are outside the main scope of the EEA agreement, allowing Iceland to retain control over its fishing policy.
The EU and Iceland also signed a security and defence partnership in March, covering co-operation on Arctic affairs, maritime security, cyber threats, support for Ukraine and climate-related security risks.
The referendum therefore leaves the country outside the EU while maintaining many of its existing economic, travel and diplomatic links with Brussels. Frostadóttir had indicated that a No vote would remove EU membership from the political agenda during the remainder of her current mandate.
