Fishing is an important industry for Iceland and many people fear future restrictions if the country joins the European Union (EU). “For us, this would probably mean that the EU would impose quotas on our mackerel and herring catches. But others would come to us to fish. That's something we don't want,” says Erlingur Steingrímsson, a retired Icelandic sailor. For him, as for most of his compatriots, this is the most important issue, explains the German public broadcaster ARD.
On August 29, Iceland's social-liberal coalition government intends to hold a referendum on whether the country should resume EU accession talks. Iceland has already held such negotiations - after the financial crisis in 2009, it started them, but 4 years later the negotiations were interrupted - mainly due to disagreements in the policy regarding fishing, the German publication recalls.
The referendum will take place earlier than planned
When it came to power, the current government promised to hold the referendum by 2027 at the latest. However, things will apparently happen much earlier. “I want to emphasize that we are a government that finishes what we started“, said Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Gunnarsdottir of the liberal Reform Party in early March. “We are confident that we can bring this issue to an end. At the end of the summer, the nation will have to make a decision. This is a process that depends entirely on the will of the Icelandic people," she stressed.
The date for the referendum is yet to be approved by the Icelandic parliament. The fact that the government wants to bring the referendum forward in time is probably related to the tense situation in world politics, ARD points out, recalling in this regard that Iceland is a member of NATO, but does not have its own armed forces. The security of the island state, which has about 400,000 inhabitants, is guaranteed primarily by the defense alliance.
Frightened by Trump's appetite for Greenland
US President Donald Trump's claims to Greenland have also scared many in neighboring Iceland, Professor Maximilian Conrad, a lecturer at the University of Iceland, tells ARD. The European integration expert has noticed that after Trump's first comments in January 2025, Icelanders became worried and asked themselves what this meant for NATO and for themselves. "Then the question of EU membership became relevant again," says the political scientist.
Konrad recalls that Iceland has always been Eurosceptic. Moreover, opponents have always claimed that NATO, not the EU, is the real guarantor of peace in Europe. But now it suddenly turns out that the US is no longer a reliable partner. For the government, which is made up of two pro-European parties, the time has simply come. "They hope to convince others who are more skeptical, mainly for security reasons," the professor points out.
People are not entirely convinced
Iceland has long worked closely with Brussels within the European Economic Area and is part of the Schengen area. When it comes to joining the EU, however, many Icelanders are still not entirely convinced.
"I don't think the EU is the solution to Iceland's defense issues. In that regard, I don't see anything that makes me think that it would be an advantage for Iceland to become part of the European Union," says 47-year-old Magnus Vidar Skulasson. He believes that the country's interests are better protected with the current status of an independent nation that has control over its own resources.
Erna Lilja Magnusdottir, 19, also believes that Iceland should not join the EU. "I feel like I don't know enough about what it would mean for Iceland," she told ARD. The young Icelander also wonders whether a small nation like Iceland would simply get lost in such a large community.
No clear picture of attitudes
According to the latest opinion polls, almost half of Icelanders surveyed support EU membership. The government assures that there will be a second referendum before final accession. In the one in August, people simply have to say whether they support the resumption of negotiations. And it seems that many more people can now imagine this.
Former sailor Erlingur Steingrimsson also considers himself a European. "If we have to connect more strongly with any organization, let it be with Europe, not the United States," says the 76-year-old. "I would vote for the EU," he tells ARD.
Author: Jana Sinram ARD