The EU referendum in Iceland

Icelandic Prime Minister: Continues to strengthen the EEA

Iceland will continue to strengthen cooperation within the European Economic Area (EEA), says Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir at a press conference, according to Icelandic media.

53 percent of Icelanders voted against resuming talks on EU membership in yesterday's vote.

- But 47 percent were interested in it, and I think it is important that we keep that perspective in mind in the coming weeks and months, says Frostadóttir according to Rúv.

Many of those who voted against EU membership also expressed positive views on EEA cooperation, she notes.

The Prime Minister adds that she is very pleased with the high voter turnout, 81 percent, and that so many Icelanders got involved in the issue. 

Iceland says no to new talks on EU membership

Iceland votes no to opening negotiations on joining the EU, reports the public service company Rúv.

After the yes side initially had a narrow lead, the no side gradually caught up and over again. In the end, the no side won with 52.8 percent of the votes against 47.2 for the yes side. This corresponds to an advantage of around 10,000 votes.

The vote is advisory and is about whether the talks that were paused more than ten years ago should be resumed.

Analysis: A setback for the EU that could strengthen Trump

The fact that the Icelanders voted no to new negotiations with the EU is a setback for Brussels, SVT correspondent Niklas Svensson states in an analysis.

A yes would have sent signals that the Union is attractive, he believes. In addition, the EU would have gained another member state in Iceland that would have paid more money into the union than it received in contributions.

– Now it will be the other way around, where the critics are strengthened, he says.

DN's Karin Eriksson calls the result “a bitter defeat for the friends of Europe in Iceland”. She also writes that US President Donald Trump may interpret Iceland's no as a sign that Europe is weakened.

“Perhaps the White House is being strengthened in its ambition to persuade Greenland to abandon the Danish kingdom”, she writes.