Icelanders will vote on August 29 on whether the country should resume European Union accession negotiations suspended more than a decade ago. The referendum will not decide whether Iceland actually joins the EU: a Yes vote would allow Reykjavik to reopen negotiations with Brussels, while any eventual accession agreement would later have to be put to Icelandic voters again. The latest Maskina poll shows an exceptionally close contest, with 51.3% supporting renewed talks and 48.7% opposed. Iceland is already deeply integrated with Europe through the European Economic Area and the Schengen zone, giving it access to the EU single market, but it has no formal vote over many of the rules it implements. Supporters argue that membership could provide greater economic stability, potentially open the way to adopting the euro and strengthen Iceland’s position amid growing geopolitical competition in the Arctic.
The most sensitive issue remains fisheries, a cornerstone of Iceland’s economy and national identity. Fish and other marine products account for close to 40% of merchandise exports, and opponents fear that joining the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy could weaken Reykjavik’s control over its valuable fishing grounds and quotas. The government says any future negotiations would have to safeguard Iceland’s full control over its fisheries, although there is no guarantee Brussels would agree to a permanent exemption from EU rules. Iceland applied for EU membership in 2009 following the financial crisis but suspended negotiations in 2013, while the application itself was never formally withdrawn. Saturday’s vote is therefore the beginning of a possible new accession process, not a final decision on whether Iceland will become the European Union’s 28th member. Sources: Government of Iceland, National Electoral Commission, Reuters, AP and RÚV.
