Voting closes in Iceland’s knife-edge EU referendum
Summary
Vote counting is underway in Iceland’s referendum on whether to restart negotiations with the European Union. Voting stations closed at 10pm local time on Saturday, and partial figures showed 50.1 percent of the first 152,000 votes were against the government's move. The result is a swing from an earlier Gallup poll that gave the “yes” side a slight lead. A final count is expected around midday on Sunday, as ballots from remote areas are transported by plane, boat, and car. The vote comes 13 years after Iceland paused EU accession talks under a Eurosceptic government. Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir called the vote and promised to honour the public's decision. If the result is “yes”, accession talks could begin by the end of 2026 and take 18 to 24 months.
Key points
- Partial results show 50.1 percent of the first 152,000 votes were against restarting talks.
- The pro-EU Social Democratic Alliance government called the referendum and promised to honour the outcome.
- A Foreign Ministry memo estimates talks could start by the end of 2026 and last 18 to 24 months.
- Security, the economy, fishing rights, and the krona were key themes in the campaign.
- Iceland first applied to join the EU in 2009 amid a financial crisis.
Timeline
Voting stations close at 10pm local time.
Partial results begin emerging; final count expected at midday.
“This is a great day. We’ve been waiting for this for years to be able to have a vote.”
Background
Iceland paused EU accession talks 13 years ago under a Eurosceptic government.
Why it matters
A “yes” vote would trigger years of negotiations and a second referendum on formal membership.