Iceland rejects government proposal to resume EU membership talks

Iceland has voted against a government proposal to resume talks to join the European Union.

Around 270,000 eligible voters were asked to answer yes or no to the question: Should Iceland resume accession negotiations with the European Union?

The "no" camp has since secured the majority of votes after Icelanders went to the polls on Saturday.

Prime Minister ⁠Kristrun ​Frostadottir on Sunday said the country would still continue to strengthen its relationship ​with ‌the European ​Economic Area following the result.

Before the final results were tallied, she told public broadcaster RUV: "I don't feel that there is bitterness. I know tempers run high for some people, but I have now spent time with a large group of people from all over the country and people are quite open to different outcomes."

Iceland was divided over issues including its security and fishing industry.

The government said its membership ​plan was a "now or never" moment, and the prime minister told voters in August that ⁠a "no" would settle all EU speculation.

Campaigners in favour of the talks said joining the EU could bring down high interest rates and provide security amid the Ukraine war and Donald Trump's repeated threats about annexing nearby Greenland.

"No" campaigners argued that membership would threaten the country's sovereignty along with its fishing waters.

The prime minister told reporters on Saturday: "This is a great day. We've been waiting ​for this for years to be able to have ​a vote."

She added that the government would continue its work regardless of the outcome.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wrote on social media on Sunday morning: "Congratulations to Iceland on voting to keep their independence."

If the country had voted yes and eventually rejoined the EU, it would have had to join its common fisheries policy that would allow Spanish, Dutch and other trawlers into its waters.

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Iceland is already in the EU's single market and the Schengen free-travel zone.

It first applied to join ⁠the EU in 2009 after the global financial crisis impacted its small, exposed economy.

However, a Eurosceptic government ended the process in 2013 and talks finished.

(c) Sky News 2026: Iceland rejects government proposal to resume EU membership talks