- Icelanders are voting in a tight referendum on restarting EU membership talks.
- Voting begins at 9am (0900 GMT) and closes at 10pm, with first reliable results expected late Saturday at the earliest.
- The around 273,000 voters are asked to answer 'Yes' or 'No' to: "Should resume accession negotiations with the European Union?" If 'Yes' wins, an accession agreement would be negotiated and then put to a new referendum on actual membership.
- The issue of fisheries – a pillar of Iceland's economy – would need to be hammered out with Brussels, which appears more willing to compromise this time.
- Political scientist Eirikur Bergmann noted that while the fundaments are domestic, the second term of the US President and geopolitical upheaval have a significant impact on the debate.
- Some households pay nine percent interest on mortgages, making EU membership with lower rates appealing; one voter said it would mean so much for her household.
Iceland is holding a referendum on resuming EU membership talks, a decision that could reshape its economic landscape.
Voting began at 9am (0900 GMT) and will close at 10pm, with results anticipated late Saturday. The referendum comes after a suspension of negotiations in 2013 by a eurosceptic government following Iceland's financial crisis in 2009.2
Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir expressed optimism about the outcome, stating, "It's pretty tight, but I'm always optimistic. It's not done until it's done." The approximately 273,000 voters are being asked to answer 'Yes' or 'No' to the question: "Should we resume accession negotiations with the European Union?"34
If the 'Yes' side prevails, an accession agreement would be negotiated with Brussels and subsequently put to another referendum on actual membership. A key issue in the negotiations will be fisheries, a vital sector for Iceland's economy, where Reykjavik seeks to maintain exclusive control.5
Eirikur Bergmann, a political scientist at Bifrost University, noted the referendum's domestic significance amid geopolitical changes, stating, "The fundaments are very domestic, but there is a significant impact that has come with the second term of (US President)."6
Many voters are motivated by economic factors, with some households facing mortgage interest rates as high as nine percent. Alexandra Yr van Erven, a 32-year-old university administrator, emphasized the importance of the referendum, saying, "I just think it's the responsible thing to do, to give this government the agency to negotiate a deal with the EU, so we can see what the possibilities are. And then we can evaluate the deal."
“Around 273,000 voters are deciding whether to resume accession negotiations, with a 'Yes' win leading to a new referendum on actual membership. Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir said, "It's pretty tight, but I'm always optimistic," while some households pay nine percent mortgage interest, making EU rates appealing.”
