Iceland: Supporters narrowly ahead in EU accession referendum

In Iceland, the initial partial results show that supporters are just ahead in the referendum on whether to start EU accession negotiations. Accordingly, 51.2 percent of voters voted for the government's proposal to resume negotiations with the European Union. 48.8 percent voted against it, as reported by the broadcaster RÚV. Around 87,000 votes from a total of 270,000 eligible voters have been counted so far. Information on voter turnout was not initially available.

The EU would welcome a yes vote from Icelanders, as the country is considered an unproblematic candidate for membership. This could help reduce skepticism about EU enlargement. Iceland's position is also important given the growing debate over Arctic security.

Discussion about accession since the Greenland debate

Iceland had already applied to join the EU once - after the global financial crisis in 2009. However, talks were broken off in 2013 after an anti-EU government came to power in Reykjavík.

In the country of 400,000 inhabitants, possible EU accession came back into discussion after US President Donald Trump threatened to take over the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland. Trump has also confused Greenland and Iceland with each other several times in public statements. For this reason, the government in Reykjavík spoke out in favor of renewed accession talks.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir emphasized in the last days before the vote that the referendum did not mean a final decision on EU accession. Should Iceland resume accession talks and later reach a membership agreement with the EU, this would be voted on in another referendum.

This article will continue to be updated.