Key Points
- Iceland rejected EU membership negotiations in a referendum by a 52-48% margin.
- The decision ended the possibility of the country becoming the EU's 28th member.
- The government asked only for the opening of negotiations, not full membership.
- Iceland will continue its relations with the EU through the EEA and Schengen.
By the Numbers
Icelandic citizens yesterday rejected the proposal to reopen membership negotiations with the European Union in a referendum. According to official results, 52% of voters said "no" to the proposal, while 48% voted "yes." This decision completely eliminates the possibility of Iceland becoming the EU's 28th member.
The referendum was held to revive the membership process initiated after the 2008 global financial crisis and halted in 2013. The government asked only for the reopening of negotiations, not full membership, which was seen as a less risky step. However, voters rejected the proposal due to concerns over loss of sovereignty and fisheries policies.
Iceland continues to maintain close relations with the EU through the European Economic Area (EEA) and Schengen agreements. Experts predict this result will not fundamentally change the country's relations with the EU, but the vision of full membership will remain off the agenda for the coming years.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What exactly was asked in the referendum?
- Only whether EU membership negotiations should be reopened was asked, not a decision on full membership.
- What does the result mean?
- Iceland halted the EU membership process; the possibility of becoming the 28th member is gone.
- Is Iceland leaving the EU completely?
- No, economic and free movement relations continue as a member of the EEA and Schengen.
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