Iceland Says “No” to EU Talks: Fishing Rights Trump Brussels as Arctic Stakes Rise

Icelanders reject reopening EU accession negotiations by 52.8% to 47.2%, choosing control over fisheries and national sovereignty over deeper integration — a setback for Brussels at a moment when the Arctic is becoming increasingly strategic Iceland has said “no” to reopening negotiations to join the European Union. In a closely fought referendum, 52.8% of Icelanders rejected the government’s proposal to resume EU accession talks, against 47.2% who voted in favour, preserving the country’s distinctive position: deeply integrated into Europe economically and institutionally, but outside the EU. Turnout reached an exceptionally high 82.5%, underlining the political significance of a vote that…