Reykjavik, August 30: Iceland is counting votes after a closely fought referendum on whether to resume negotiations for European Union membership.
The referendum asks voters whether the country should reopen accession negotiations with Brussels. A “Yes” result would not make Iceland an EU member immediately; it would only restart negotiations, with any eventual membership agreement requiring another referendum.
The vote has divided Icelandic society, with debates focusing on fishing rights, national sovereignty, the cost of living, interest rates and European security.
Iceland originally applied for EU membership in 2009 during the aftermath of a severe financial crisis. Negotiations were later suspended in 2013 after a Eurosceptic government came to power.
The latest referendum has attracted international attention because of changing security conditions in Europe and growing uncertainty surrounding relations between the United States, Europe and Russia.
Early partial results showed the “Yes” side with a narrow lead, but the final outcome remained uncertain as counting continued.
Why it matters:
A decision to restart EU talks could mark a major shift in Iceland’s foreign and economic policy and potentially reshape its relationship with the European bloc.