Iceland votes on restarting EU accession talks amid tight race

Voters in Iceland went to the polls Saturday to decide whether the country should resume negotiations with the European Union. Polls closed at 10:00 p.m. local time, and the national broadcaster RÚV reported that early counts showed a very close contest, with the “yes” camp holding a slim lead.

If the proposal is approved, it would not grant immediate EU membership. Instead, talks with Brussels would restart, and a subsequent referendum would be required to ratify any accession agreement.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir said the decision now rests with the electorate, adding that the country could either pursue negotiations and seek a favorable deal or set the EU discussion aside for the time being. She has led a pro-EU coalition since late 2024 and previously noted that Iceland already complies with about three-quarters of EU regulations.

Opponents caution that joining the bloc could diminish Iceland’s influence among the 27 member states and potentially force changes to its fishing policies and currency, as the nation would need to adopt the euro and integrate fully into the EU single market.