Iceland Vote Ends EU Membership Talks in a Close Referendum

Icelanders have narrowly rejected a proposal to restart the country’s suspended negotiations for European Union membership.

The “No” side won by around 5.6 percentage points, with fewer than 13,000 votes separating the two camps out of more than 225,000 ballots cast. Turnout was high at 82.5%.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir, who supported restarting the talks, called for unity and urged voters to respect both sides of the debate. She said the referendum had raised important discussions about Iceland’s position in Europe and its wider geopolitical role.

The result means the EU membership issue is likely to remain off Iceland’s political agenda for at least the next two years. Frostadóttir has pledged to leave the issue aside for the remainder of her term, which runs until 2028.

Iceland’s existing relationship with the EU will not change immediately. The country remains part of the European Economic Area and the passport-free Schengen zone.

Iceland first applied for EU membership following the 2009 financial crisis, but negotiations were suspended in 2013. The current government revived the debate amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.

Fisheries remained one of the most controversial issues, with many opponents concerned about EU rules governing fishing quotas and control of Icelandic waters.