REYKJAVIK: Icelanders voted to stay out of the European Union, referendum results showed on Sunday, as they rejected a government push to reopen membership talks and sided with those who said Iceland’s fishing waters were too important to risk.
The Arctic island of 400,000 people has debated whether to join the EU for well over a decade and had initially been expected to narrowly back holding membership talks, but opinion polls this month showed views had changed.
Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir told a press conference that Iceland would focus on strengthening its existing ties with the European Union through the European Economic Area agreement, which it shares with Norway and Liechtenstein.
“A big lesson for me and also for the government is that people are happy with the EEA agreement,” she said.
A European Commission spokesperson said it respected the choice of the Icelandic people and noted that Iceland remained a close partner of the European Union.
Frostadottir now plans to call Norway’s prime minister, public broadcaster RUV reported.
In Saturday’s referendum, 52.8% of ballots cast were against the government’s proposal to hold negotiations with Brussels, 47.2% were in favour, and 82.5% of eligible voters took part.
Out of six constituencies, only the two in central Reykjavik had a majority that voted in favour, while the rural areas and the Reykjavik suburbs voted against.
The government had framed membership as a shield against trade wars and Arctic rivalry and presented the referendum as a “now or never” moment. Frostadottir said the “no” would end the debate for as long as her centre-left coalition was in power.
DECADES OF MEMBERSHIP DEBATE
In Brussels, some officials had voiced hopes a vote to join from Iceland could ease scepticism toward EU enlargement and strategically strengthen the bloc when Arctic security is in focus.
“This is a clear setback for Brussels,” an EU diplomat told Reuters, adding that the issues of fishing and independence had been decisive.
Iceland, a NATO member state but with no standing army of its own, also debated whether EU accession could boost the country’s security when US President Donald Trumphas cast doubt on the US commitment to the military alliance.
Trump has also repeatedly said he wants to acquire Greenland, another Arctic island.
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