Icelanders vote on resuming EU membership talks in referendum

Icelanders are heading to the polls today in a referendum to decide on the resumption of accession negotiations with the European Union. Opinion polls suggest a tight race, with the results anticipated later tonight. Notably, more than 20 percent of eligible voters had already cast their ballots before the official voting day, according to the Icelandic national broadcaster RÚV.

The nation of nearly 400,000 people, with 273,000 eligible voters, initially applied for EU membership in 2009 following the global financial crisis. However, accession talks were halted in 2013 when an EU-critical government came to power. Recent geopolitical shifts, including threats from then-U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Greenland, have prompted a reconsideration of EU membership among many Icelanders, leading the government in Reykjavik to place the issue back on the agenda.

According to surveys, both the 'yes' and 'no' camps are expected to receive approximately 50 percent of the votes. Voters are being asked the specific question: "Should Iceland resume accession negotiations with the European Union?" Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, who supports closer ties with the EU, expressed cautious optimism, stating, "It's a close race, but I am always optimistic. It is not decided until it is decided."

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir has emphasized that the referendum is not a final decision on EU membership. Should Iceland resume accession talks and later reach a membership agreement with the EU, another referendum would be held to approve the actual accession. However, many Icelanders see little immediate need for full membership, given that Iceland already enjoys access to the European single market.

If the proponents of resuming negotiations win, an accession agreement would be negotiated with Brussels, followed by a new referendum on actual EU membership. Resistance to joining the EU remains particularly strong in the fishing sector, which is crucial for the country's economy.

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It's a close race, but I am always optimistic. It is not decided until it is decided.