Majority of Icelandic businesses oppose EU membership: Survey

A significant majority of companies surveyed by the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise (SA) are opposed to Iceland joining the European Union. The latest poll indicates that 66% of member companies are either "rather" or "very" against membership, an increase from 56% in the previous survey.

This growing opposition spans all industries, both in the capital region and in rural areas. While there are variations between sectors, no industry reported a majority in favor of joining the EU. The tech and intellectual property sector showed the least opposition, with 48% against and 38% in favor.

Conversely, the fishing industry registered the highest level of opposition at 91%. Tourism companies also showed strong resistance, with 72% against membership compared to 21% in favor. Service industries reported 61% opposition and 26% support.

The survey, conducted by Gallup between July 3 and 15, 2026, involved 1,808 SA member companies, with 737 responding, resulting in a response rate of 40.8%. The findings suggest a prevailing sentiment against EU accession among Icelandic businesses.