Iceland votes against restarting EU membership talks

In a referendum held on August 30, 2026, Icelandic voters rejected the government's proposal to resume European Union membership talks. Public broadcaster RUV reported that 52.8% of the 225,031 votes cast were against resuming negotiations, while 47.2% were in favor. The turnout was 82.5%, the highest in any Icelandic election since 2009. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir's centre-left government had promised a referendum by 2027 but brought it forward due to international tensions, including US President Donald Trump's threats against Greenland. However, the campaign centered on fishing rights and national identity rather than security. The No vote was stronger in rural areas, while Reykjavík backed accession talks. The result does not rule out future talks, but the Prime Minister said the issue would not be revisited while her government is in office.