Iceland voters reject reopening European Union membership talks

Reykjavik, Iceland. Icelanders voted against reopening negotiations on joining the European Union, referendum results showed on Sunday, rejecting a government proposal to resume membership talks with Brussels.

In Saturday’s referendum, 52.8% of votes were cast against holding negotiations and 47.2% in favour, while turnout reached 82.5%, according to public broadcaster RUV and other Icelandic media.

Government proposal rejected

The government had presented EU membership as protection against trade wars and competition in the Arctic, describing the referendum as a “now or never” decision.

Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir said a vote against the proposal would end the debate for as long as her centre-left coalition remained in power. A government press conference was scheduled for 1 p.m. GMT.

Fishing and economic concerns

The Arctic island nation of about 400,000 people has debated EU membership for more than a decade. Icelanders initially appeared narrowly likely to support renewed talks, but opinion polls this month indicated a shift in views.

Debate in Iceland has focused on interest rates, fishing rights and the cost of living rather than security. Opponents of renewed negotiations argued that Iceland’s fishing waters were too important to risk.

Iceland first applied to join the EU in 2009, when a financial crisis affected its small and exposed economy. A Eurosceptic government ended the talks in 2013.

European and Arctic context

Some officials in Brussels had hoped that an Icelandic vote to join the EU could reduce scepticism about enlargement and strengthen the bloc strategically as Arctic security becomes more prominent.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants to reach an agreement to acquire Greenland, another Arctic island. Geopolitical turmoil, including the war in the Middle East, has also contributed to inflation and increased the vulnerability of smaller economies.