“We really can no longer trust the US,” said horror literature writer Hildur Knutsdottir, who plans to vote for EU membership.
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“Trump was not joking about Greenland. There was great fear in Iceland because if he forcibly took Greenland, we would probably be next in line,” she said.
Iceland has to decide: whether to continue to operate successfully independently and maintain control over valuable natural resources, such as profitable and well-managed fisheries, or to strengthen ties with Europe.
This would help better protect the country from geopolitical instability and provide economic benefits, such as a more stable euro currency and lower interest rates and inflation.
Iceland, which is a NATO member, already participates in the EU single market and is part of the Schengen area.
At the center of the debate – sovereignty
Hulda Thorisdottir, a professor of political science at the University of Iceland, says that for both sides this is a matter of sovereignty.
Opponents argue that the country, which regained independence from the Kingdom of Denmark in 1944, enjoys all the benefits of European integration without any drawbacks. H. Thorisdottir asks why give that up when Iceland is doing so well.
However, EU supporters view this through the prism of a rapidly changing world, where shifting alliances pose security risks. According to H. Thorisdottir, being outside the EU makes Iceland vulnerable, which threatens its sovereignty.
This referendum is the first step towards potential membership in the 27-country bloc. Voters will answer a simple question: should Iceland resume negotiations to join the EU?
If voters decide that resuming negotiations is worthwhile, the process with the European Commission (EC) would begin, during which 35 areas would be assessed: from financial systems to fisheries, transport networks, agricultural regulations, and freedoms such as freedom of speech and religion.
Any agreement would have to be approved by all current EU member states, and the final word on accession would be given by the Icelandic voters themselves.
Fisheries – a possible obstacle to negotiations
The rich North Atlantic fishing grounds have always been a cornerstone of disagreements over EU accession, fearing that joining the Common Fisheries Policy would mean allowing trawlers from Spain, the Netherlands, and other countries to enter Icelandic waters.
Any agreement with the EU that would not protect Iceland’s fishing rights is considered impossible, but some government officials are confident that an exception will be made for Iceland’s fishing industry.
The government had planned to hold the vote next year but brought it forward after repeated hints from D. Trump about taking over Greenland, the self-governing territory of Denmark, a long-time US ally.
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