Icelandic voters narrowly oppose reopening EU membership talks

Key facts

• A Gallup poll shows 51.6% of Icelandic voters oppose reopening EU membership talks, while 48.4% support it.
• The referendum on Saturday is to decide whether to resume accession talks, not on final membership.
• A previous poll by Maskina indicated 51.3% in favor of resuming negotiations.
• Iceland abandoned EU accession talks in 2013.
• Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir stated a 'no' vote would end EU speculation.

A new Gallup poll indicates that a narrow majority of Icelandic voters oppose reopening negotiations to join the European Union, a shift from earlier surveys. The poll, conducted between August 24-27 among 4,583 respondents, found 51.6% against resuming talks with Brussels, while 48.4% supported it. This comes ahead of a referendum scheduled for Saturday on whether to restart accession discussions.

Earlier this week, a survey by polling agency Maskina reported that 51.3% of respondents favored holding negotiations, with 48.7% opposed. Iceland withdrew from EU accession talks in 2013, four years after applying, when a Eurosceptic government took power. However, rising living costs and the war in Ukraine have reportedly revived public interest in the question.

Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir has framed the upcoming vote as a "now or never" moment, stating that a "no" vote would put an end to all EU speculation. EU membership would provide Iceland with a direct voice in decision-making bodies like the European Commission and the Council of Ministers, entry into the customs union, and the option to adopt the euro.