Iceland EU referendum on a knife edge as counting continues

What the report says

Iceland’s referendum on whether to resume accession talks with the European Union remained too close to call as counting continued, according to BBC World News. Early results from 153,197 ballots suggested a razor-thin split, with the public broadcaster RUV reporting 50.1% against and 49.9% in favour, leaving only 435 votes between the sides. The vote was held on the question of whether Iceland should restart negotiations with the bloc.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir’s centre-left government brought the referendum forward from a promised 2027 timetable, citing a more uncertain international environment. BBC said the campaign was shaped less by security debates than by concern over fishing rights, which remain a major issue in Iceland’s relationship with the EU. The country is already in the EU’s single market and Schengen zone, but full membership would also mean joining the customs union and, later, the euro.

Iceland first applied to join the EU in 2009 after its financial crisis, but talks were later put on hold by a eurosceptic government in 2013. The current vote would not automatically secure membership: a yes result would only reopen negotiations, and any final deal would still need approval in another referendum. A no vote would not permanently rule out future talks.