Iceland votes on resuming EU accession talks
A referendum on resuming negotiations on the country’s accession to the European Union began in Iceland on August 29, 2026. About 273,000 voters must answer “yes” or “no” to the question of whether Iceland should resume talks on joining the EU, Channel NewsAsia reports.
Vote with an uncertain outcome
Polling stations opened at 9:00 and are due to close at 22:00. No exit polls are being conducted, so the first reliable results are not expected before late evening. According to the latest Gallup poll, 51.6% of respondents opposed resuming negotiations, while 48.4% supported it. The difference is within the margin of statistical error.
Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, who supports European integration, said before the vote that the contest would be close, but that she remained optimistic.
If supporters of resuming negotiations prevail, Iceland and the EU will negotiate an accession agreement. The document will then be put to a separate referendum on Iceland’s actual membership in the EU.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Fisheries and economic arguments
Iceland applied to join the EU after the 2009 financial crisis, which dealt a severe blow to its economy. Talks were halted in 2013, when a eurosceptic government came to power.
One of the key issues in potential negotiations will be fisheries, an important sector of Iceland’s economy, over which Reykjavik seeks to retain control. At the same time, the country already has access to the EU single market as a member of the European Economic Area, so some voters see no need for full membership.
Arguments in favor of negotiations include high inflation and interest rates. According to AFP, some households pay 9% on mortgage loans, while the prospect of joining the eurozone is associated with lower rates. Security issues also influence the debate, including the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, an aggressor state, and Iceland’s dependence on NATO and a 1951 bilateral defense agreement with the United States.
