Iceland’s carefully fought referendum on whether to resume membership talks with the European Union is going down to wire, with the end result too close to call.
Based on the first 153,197 votes counted of the 270,000 voters eligible, 50.1% rejected the authorities’s proposal, while 49.9% said yes, public broadcaster RUV said, with just 435 votes splitting them.
Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir’s centre-left authorities promised to maintain a referendum by 2027, but introduced it ahead because of worldwide tensions, including US President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland.
However, debate in this island nation of virtually 400,000 people centred more on its fishing industry rather than security issues.
Already half of the EU’s single market and Schengen border-free zone, EU membership would carry Iceland into the customs union and finally the euro.
Iceland started its software to be part of the EU in 2009 in the wake of the 2008 financial disaster and the collapse of Iceland’s banking system.
Its software was already properly superior when a eurosceptic authorities came to energy in 2013 and put talks on maintain. Fishing rights was the largest impediment then – as it stays in the present day.
Fish and marine industries account for virtually 40% of Iceland’s exports and many No voters feared they would cede some control of their profitable fishing grounds under the EU’s common fisheries coverage.
The referendum marketing campaign has fuelled debate about Iceland’s place in the world, Frostadottir said after casting her poll in the capital on Saturday.
“This is a great day, we’ve been waiting for this for years to be able to have a vote,” Frostadottir said, including that her authorities would proceed its work regardless of the final result.
The query on the poll was: “Should Iceland resume accession negotiations with the European Union?”
A Yes vote would not be a remaining determination on becoming a member of the EU, but a transfer towards an accession settlement, which would then have to be accepted by a second referendum.
Equally, the No vote would not rule out the likelihood of Iceland resuming talks in the future.
While financial points dominated the referendum campaigns, security issues also featured.
Iceland is a founder member of Nato but it has no army and depends on its allies for defence.
The nation has backed Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion and officers have been alarmed by Russia’s elevated maritime manoeuvres close to the island.
Trump’s expressed curiosity in taking over Greenland has also raised issues.
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