Iceland votes on whether to resume EU membership negotiations

Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) — Voters in Iceland are set to cast their ballots on Saturday, deciding whether or not to resume negotiations to join the European Union (EU). This decision is being made amidst U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertions about controlling Greenland. The referendum question is straightforward for the 265,000 eligible voters: Should Iceland resume accession negotiations with the European Union?

If the voters opt for "no," that's the end of the matter for at least one generation. A "yes" vote would initiate a negotiating process involving the EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, encompassing 35 areas, from the economy to human rights. Perhaps of utmost importance to Iceland, its fishing stocks in the bountiful North Atlantic waters would be up for discussion. However, not everyone is thrilled about this prospect.

The looming presence of Greenland due to Trump’s comments has cast a shadow over the referendum. While Trump has suggested he wouldn’t use force to seize Greenland, his interest in the matter hasn’t diminished. Many in Iceland are apprehensive - if Greenland were to fall into U.S. hands, might Iceland be next?

The question becomes clearer: If Iceland joins the EU, does it provide a safeguard against any future ambitions of Trump in the North Atlantic? Iceland's left-leaning coalition government, in power since 2024, is optimistic about EU membership and is the driving force behind the referendum, being held earlier than planned.

"We can't really trust the U.S. anymore," stated Hildur Knútsdóttir, a horror fiction writer planning to vote in favor of EU membership. After a decade, EU membership is back on the table. Joining the 27-nation EU would involve Iceland accepting the bloc’s common fisheries policy, which would allow foreign trawlers into their waters. The government has hinted at seeking a special arrangement, possibly a total opt-out from this policy.

In the days leading up to the vote, Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir reminded the electorate that this is not the end but rather a new beginning. "This is not an election about membership and not about adaptation, as there will be another referendum on an accession agreement if the result is yes," she told a rally.

For many Icelanders, the referendum is not just about economics; it's also a matter of national identity. With a history of independence and a proud tradition of not being subjugated by larger European nations, Iceland even fought and won the Cod Wars with Britain in the 1970s over fishing rights. Supporters of EU membership argue that closer ties with European neighbors are essential to combat borderless issues like climate change.

Iceland already belongs to the EU’s single market and Schengen free-travel zone. Critics argue that the current status quo is satisfactory and that Iceland benefits from European integration without sacrificing its sovereignty. Former Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir posited, "I think Iceland is better off outside of the EU, within the close collaboration with the EU."