- Icelanders are voting in a referendum on whether to resume talks to join the EU.
- Polling stations close at 11pm UK time, with results expected overnight.
Icelanders are heading to the polls on Saturday to decide whether to resume talks for European Union membership, a significant move after years of stalled discussions.
Approximately 265,000 eligible voters will cast their votes on the question of resuming accession negotiations.
The referendum comes amid concerns over U.S. threats, particularly from the Trump administration, which has raised fears that Iceland could be targeted. Many believe that joining the EU could serve as a protective measure against such threats.
A key issue in the discussions is Iceland's fishing industry. If the majority votes in favor, negotiations will commence with the EU's executive branch, the European Commission, covering 35 areas, including the management of Iceland's rich fishing stocks in the North Atlantic.
Joining the EU would require Iceland to adopt its common fisheries policy, potentially allowing foreign trawlers into its waters. However, the Icelandic government has indicated it would seek a special deal or an opt-out from this policy.
Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir has emphasized that this referendum is not the final decision on membership, stating, “This is not an election about membership and not about adaptation, as there will be another referendum on an accession agreement if the result is yes.”
Polling stations will close at 11pm UK time, with results expected to be announced overnight.34
“The referendum could reverse Iceland's 2015 decision to withdraw its EU application, a move that followed years of public skepticism. With polls closing at 11pm UK time, the outcome will signal whether the nation is ready to re-engage with Brussels after a decade of distance.”
