Iceland votes on whether to start EU membership talks
A narrow vote could reopen talks frozen since 2013, with supporters citing 8% rates and opponents warning about sovereignty and fishing rights.
- On Saturday, Icelanders voted on whether to reopen European Union membership talks, with the nation of roughly 400,000 people deeply divided over sovereignty, fishing rights, and the cost of living.
- Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Gunnarsdottir advocates for reopening negotiations, citing security pressures in a shifting international order. Supporters argue membership could ease high inflation and interest rates, which stand at 8.00%.
- Former Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir warned on Thursday that "For a country like ours with our small economy, it's very important to maintain our sovereignty." Opponents fear membership would compromise control over fishing waters.
- Should voters approve, the decision would only initiate discussions with Brussels. Vilhjalmur Hilmarsson, chief economist at Viska, said membership "could become a catalyst to a more healthy economy" despite not solving structural faults.
- A foreign ministry memo estimates accession talks could span 18 to 24 months if negotiations resume by the end of 2026. A mandatory general election by November 2028 adds political uncertainty to any negotiating timeline.
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337 Articles
Iceland votes on resuming EU membership talks as Trump's push for neighboring Greenland looms over debate
Iceland voted on whether to reopen EU membership negotiations as President Donald Trump's push for Greenland control adds a new security dimension for the NATO ally.
This article was originally published on Cedarnews.net. For more news and exclusive reports, visit our website. Icelanders vote on whether to join the EU. The Washington Post reports that Icelanders will vote on whether they want to join the EU. This news was published on the Cedarnews website. For more breaking news and exclusive reports, visit our official website.
Reykjavik, 29 Aug (EFE).- The polling stations for the referendum in Iceland on the resumption of negotiations with the European Union (EU) closed this Saturday at 22.00 GMT, in a consultation in which previous polls point to a tight result. The nearly 273,000 Icelandic voters called to the polls were able to vote among [...] The entry Close polling stations in Iceland for referendum on negotiations with the EU was first published in HolaNews.
Icelanders do not seem to be particularly enthusiastic about the referendum on resuming accession talks with the EU. In several constituencies, provisional turnout is approaching the turnout figures of previous elections, such as around the capital Reykjavik. One fifth of eligible voters had already cast their vote before Saturday.
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