REYKJAVIK – Citizens of Iceland rejected the government’s proposal to resume negotiations on membership in the European Union in a national referendum, according to preliminary results reported by Iceland’s public broadcaster RÚV.
Based on 188,500 votes counted, out of around 270,000 registered voters, 52.5% voted against resuming the negotiations, while 47.5% of those who took part in the referendum supported the government’s proposal.
The victorious camp in the referendum campaign highlighted the preservation of national sovereignty and the protection of Iceland’s fishing grounds, a key pillar of the country’s economy, as the main reasons for opposing EU membership.
On the other hand, supporters of European integration, led by Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir, argued that membership would bring long-term economic stability, lower interest rates and greater security amid global geopolitical tensions and the war in Ukraine.
Iceland first applied for membership in the European Union in 2009, following a severe financial crisis, but the country’s Eurosceptic government suspended the negotiations in 2013. Following the referendum, Iceland will remain outside the European Union for the foreseeable future, while maintaining close integration with the bloc through its membership in the European Economic Area and the Schengen Area.
As Euronews reports, the European Commission has issued a muted reaction after Iceland rejected the reopening of accession negotiations with the bloc in a hotly contested referendum, a decision that risks dampening the momentum on enlargement.
“The European Commission takes note of the outcome of Iceland’s referendum. The Commission respects the choice of the Icelandic people. Iceland remains a close partner of the European Union”, a Commission spokesperson said in a brief statement.
European Council President António Costa exchanged messages with Iceland’s Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir during which “both leaders expressed their desire to continue to strengthen the relationship between the EU and Iceland”, according to Costa’s spokesperson.
“President Costa stressed that the EU fully respects the democratic choice of the Icelandic people in today’s referendum. Iceland remains one of the EU’s closest and most trusted partners,” the spokesperson said.
Frostadóttir had previously said she would abandon the matter of EU membership entirely for the remainder of her term if voters rejected the proposal.
“47% of the population was interested in it,” Frostadóttir said on Sunday. “I think it is important that we go into the coming months and weeks and respect that point of view.”
