Iceland’s government has confirmed that it will not continue accession negotiations with the European Union following Saturday’s referendum.
Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir said the result would be respected and that the issue would not move forward during the current government’s term.
What’s the Story?
- The government says EU accession negotiations will not restart during its term.
- The referendum ended 52.8% No to 47.2% Yes, with turnout of 82.5%.
- The status of Iceland’s 2009 EU application will now be discussed with Alþingi’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
The referendum closes one route, not Iceland’s European ties
The government’s position turns the referendum result into a concrete policy decision. Iceland Review reported Sunday that Iceland rejected restarting EU accession talks by 52.8% to 47.2%.
The vote itself was advisory and did not automatically change Icelandic law or treaty relationships. As Iceland Review explained in What Happens Now After Iceland Rejects EU Talks?, Iceland remains inside the European Economic Area and Schengen and continues its other existing agreements with the EU.
At a government press conference on Sunday, Kristrún said the government would respect the result and would not push accession talks forward during its term. Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir is expected to discuss the next formal steps, including the status of Iceland’s 2009 application, with Alþingi’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
The government is instead placing greater emphasis on the EEA relationship. That distinction matters because the referendum campaign was closely watched in Brussels; Iceland Review previously examined why EU officials saw the vote as relevant to the wider enlargement debate.
Read more stories covering Icelandic society, politics, business, and culture at Iceland Review News.
