Iceland votes on whether to start EU membership talks
- On Saturday, Icelanders voted on whether to reopen European Union membership talks, with the nation of roughly 400,000 people deeply divided over sovereignty, fishing rights, and the cost of living.
- Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Gunnarsdottir advocates for reopening negotiations, citing security pressures in a shifting international order. Supporters argue membership could ease high inflation and interest rates, which stand at 8.00%.
- Former Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir warned on Thursday that "For a country like ours with our small economy, it's very important to maintain our sovereignty." Opponents fear membership would compromise control over fishing waters.
- Should voters approve, the decision would only initiate discussions with Brussels. Vilhjalmur Hilmarsson, chief economist at Viska, said membership "could become a catalyst to a more healthy economy" despite not solving structural faults.
- A foreign ministry memo estimates accession talks could span 18 to 24 months if negotiations resume by the end of 2026. A mandatory general election by November 2028 adds political uncertainty to any negotiating timeline.
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507 Articles
Iceland votes 'no' to resuming EU talks
Iceland voted 'No' to resuming membership negotiations with the European Union, final referendum results showed Sunday, dealing a blow to Brussels which had been keen to welcome a new wealthy member. In a vote held Saturday, 52.8 percent of Icelanders rejected the resumption of EU entry talks suspended 13 years ago, while 47.2 percent voted 'Yes', according to the official tally published by RUV, the public broadcaster. Social Democratic Prime M…
Iceland rejects bid to open EU talks
Icelanders narrowly turned down a reopening of membership talks with the European Union in a divisive referendum where concerns over keeping control of the island nation’s natural resources overshadowed the geopolitical credibility of the bloc.
Icelanders doubt the benefits of joining the EU – and confirmed this in a referendum, voting against the resumption of negotiations with Brussels – and are concerned about migration, the EU's economic problems, the risks to its industry and energy, and the loss of freedom in foreign policy, as reported by Icelandic journalist Haukur Hauksson. "The outcome of the voting in Iceland is directly related to the current state of the European Union, an…
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luxtimes.luIceland votes to reject the EU as fisheries worries prevail
Icelanders narrowly turned down a reopening of membership talks with the European Union in a divisive referendum where concerns over keeping control of the island nation’s natural resources overshadowed the geopolitical credibility of the bloc.
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