Iceland Says No
Iceland voted 'No' to resuming membership negotiations with the European Union, referendum results showed Sunday, dealing a blow to Brussels which had been keen to welcome a new wealthy member.
Almost 53 percent of Icelanders rejected the resumption of EU entry talks suspended 13 years ago, while some 47 percent voted in favour in Saturday's referendum. Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir, who favoured a 'Yes,' stressed she didn't "see this as a setback". "I see this as a victory for democracy," she told reporters, pointing to voter turnout of over 80 percent. "I want to make it absolutely clear, this government is not going forward with the accession talks this term."
This means any discussions of Icelandic accession are frozen at least until 2028, an apparent disappointment to Brussels, which had appeared willing to compromise on thorny issues to facilitate Iceland's accession. EU chief Antonio Costa nonetheless told Frostadottir the bloc "fully respects the democratic choice" made by voters. "Iceland remains one of the EU's closest and most trusted partners," said the spokesperson.
Far-right celebration
Far-right, eurosceptic leaders in Britain and France hailed the result. "At a time when some are pushing for greater federalism and the transfer of sovereignty to the European Commission, this vote reminds us that another Europe is possible, a Europe of free, sovereign nations cooperating voluntarily on matters of common interest," France's Marine Le Pen wrote on X.
"Congratulations to Iceland on voting to keep their independence," Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who was one of the faces of Britain's Brexit, wrote on the same platform.
Iceland, a country of just under 400'000 people, applied to join the EU in the wake of the 2009 financial crisis that devastated its economy. Membership talks were then suspended in 2013 when a eurosceptic government came to power. The island is already closely linked to the EU as a member of the European Economic Area and the free-movement Schengen zone, ties which will remain unchanged.
High turnout
Debates ahead of the vote mainly revolved around domestic and economic issues, though the war in Ukraine and US President Donald Trump's ambitions for neighbouring Greenland, which he has mixed up with Iceland on several occasions, also featured. According to RUV, voter turnout was 82.5 percent, the highest participation in any Icelandic vote since April 2009 parliamentary elections during its crippling financial crisis.
"It's hard to grasp that it's a 'No'," 37-year-old artist Elisabet Anna Kristjansdottir told AFP. "It's quite sad that the majority doesn't want to go in that direction, but life goes on."