Iceland says NO to the EU but remains closely connected to Brussels
Iceland does not want to start new accession negotations with the EU for the time being. In a referendum a tight majority of 52,8 percent voted against restarting the talks that were stopped in 2013. 47,2 percent voted in favour of the negotations and voter turnover was more than 82 percent.
For the EU this result is a political setback, but anyway Iceland remains a close partner. This North Atlantic country is already more closely connected to the Union than its actual non member status might suggest.
However the Icelandic model has one crucial difference from EU membership: Iceland does adopt a large part of the rules of the European market, but it does not sit at the EU negotiating tables where these rules are discussed and decided. The country has neither members in the European Parliament nor a regular vote in the EU Concil.
Fishing is a particular sensitive issue. The sector is very important to their economy. The government in Reykjavik therefore wants to continue with decisions on fishing quotas itself and to limit access to the fishing sector to foreign companies.
For now Iceland has chosen to continue with its existing model. If such relationship serves the country’s long-term political and economic interest remains a matter of debate in Iceland. For the EU Iceland is without doubt a close partner- even if without membership. The question of accession has therefore been postponed for now, but not definitively answered.