Iceland holds knife-edge referendum on EU - and it could be decided on fish
On Saturday, Iceland will vote on EU membership talks, amid economic and geopolitical tensions.
Voters in Iceland will soon determine whether their country should re-enter talks with the European Union. The referendum is highly contested, with supporters claiming EU membership could stabilize Iceland's volatile currency and reduce the cost of living, while opponents fear giving up control over fishing waters and sovereignty to a foreign entity.
The island nation of nearly 400,000 people has been divided on this issue for decades. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir's centre-left government has committed to holding the vote by 2027, amid growing geopolitical concerns and the rapid evolution of global power dynamics. Iceland, a founding member of NATO but without its own military, lies close to the GIUK gap, an area of strategic importance to Western powers.
The country's fishing industry, which comprises nearly 40% of its exports, is a significant concern for those opposed to EU membership. A Yes vote would trigger negotiations with Brussels, but a No vote would halt the process. Some Icelanders are expected to vote Yes to learn what terms the EU offers, even though they may later reject the deal.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
