Key facts
- Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, chair of Iceland's Independence Party, urged European politicians to avoid influencing the nation's referendum on EU membership talks.
- The referendum, set for August 29, will determine if Iceland resumes accession negotiations with the EU.
- Polls suggest the vote on resuming talks is closely contested, while a majority opposes actual membership.
- European figures like Valérie Hayer and Marta Kos have welcomed the prospect of renewed negotiations.
- Hafsteinsdóttir emphasized Iceland's national identity and sovereignty, particularly concerning fisheries, agriculture, and economic policy.
Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, the leader of Iceland's largest opposition party, the Independence Party, has urged European politicians to refrain from interfering in the nation's upcoming referendum on whether to resume EU membership talks. The vote, scheduled for August 29, is seen as a crucial moment for Iceland's national identity and sovereignty.
Hafsteinsdóttir stated that the decision should be left solely to the Icelandic people, emphasizing that "independence is emotional for Icelanders." She argued that Iceland can maintain strong cooperation and be a reliable partner to the EU without formal membership, particularly concerning control over fisheries, agriculture, and economic policy.
The referendum fulfills a commitment by Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir's coalition government. While polls suggest the question of resuming talks is closely divided, a clearer majority remains opposed to full membership. Several prominent European figures, including French MEP Valérie Hayer and EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, have expressed optimism about the prospect of renewed negotiations.
The debate has been further influenced by growing security concerns in the Arctic and past U.S. actions, such as President Donald Trump's comments regarding Greenland, which Hafsteinsdóttir cited as underscoring the need for strong alliances without surrendering national decision-making power.