Iceland plans August referendum on restarting EU talks

Leaders of Iceland’s three ruling coalition parties announced at a press conference on Friday that a public referendum will be held on August 29 on whether to resume membership talks with the European Union.

A bill authorizing the vote will be submitted to the Alþingi parliament next week and is expected to pass, with the coalition government of Samfylkingin (Social Democrats), Viðreisn (Reform Party) and Flokkur fólksins (People’s Party) holding a five-seat majority.

Latest polling suggests the referendum could pass, with 57% of the public saying they would vote in favor of resuming negotiations and 30% opposed, according to a Gallup poll conducted in late February.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir said the referendum is intended to resolve a political debate that has continued since 2009, when Iceland submitted its application for EU membership under a Social Democratic-led government. Accession talks were suspended in 2013 after eurosceptic parties won that year’s parliamentary election.

“This discussion has hung over Iceland for more than a decade. Now we can decide whether to close the issue once and for all, or explore it fully and then take a final position,” she said.

The government leaders stressed that the referendum will not ask voters whether Iceland should join the EU, but whether the country should resume membership negotiations.

“I proposed — and the government approved — that the referendum be held on August 29,” she said. “We will ask the nation: Should Iceland continue negotiations on membership of the European Union?”

Despite backing the referendum, the People’s Party, unlike its coalition partners, has previously expressed opposition to EU membership. However, its leader Inga Sæland struck a conciliatory tone at the press conference, recalling advice from her grandmother.

“My grandmother, Nína, always said: ‘He who doesn’t know, asks.’ And now we’re going to ask our nation,” she said.

One of the key sticking points regarding Iceland’s membership has been the nation’s sovereignty over its vital fisheries and Gunnarsdóttir claimed that she would “never sign an agreement” that would surrendering Icelanders’ control over its fisheries. However, she claimed that

“We’re often arguing about a book that hasn’t been written yet,” Gunnarsdóttir said. “This referendum gives the nation the chance to see the whole book before deciding.”

Concerns about foreign interference

Potential foreign interference was raised at the press conference, with ministers warning that any attempt to meddle in the referendum campaign would not be tolerated.

Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir said there were “real concerns” that outside actors could try to shape the debate, noting that influence operations had become more common across Europe.

“There are certain forces in the world that do not want to see a strong and united Europe,” she said. “We are seeing very significant influence operations from Russia in countries that are moving closer to the European Union.”

She cited recent elections in Moldova as an example where Russian-linked funding had been used to try to sway votes.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir also warned against outside involvement.

“Foreign interference will not be tolerated, whether from the European Union, China, Russia or the United States,” she said. “This is Iceland’s issue and we will not allow others to influence us.”