Iceland’s 52.8% to 47.2% vote against reopening EU accession talks is, undeniably, a blow for Brussels. But claiming it as a Brexit-style victory for “national sovereignty” or evidence of broad rejection of the EU misrepresents the reality of the island’s relationship with the bloc. For the EU, Iceland was a dream candidate: small, stable, prosperous and strategically located in an increasingly contested Arctic.
Eager as it is to wield more geopolitical clout and revive flagging momentum around enlargement, a vote in favour would have given Brussels a very welcome boost. Instead, Iceland’s rejection handed Eurosceptics another stick with which to beat the bloc. France’s Marine Le Pen said the result showed the appeal of a Europe of “free, sovereign nations” rather than closer integration, while Reform UK’s Nigel Farage congratulated Icelanders on “voting to keep their independence”.
But Iceland is a very special case. Its situation bears precious little relation to Brexit or even to a broader EU-critical movement. Icelanders did not vote to isolate themselves from the EU, tear up any treaties or “take back control”, they voted to preserve a close, customised and largely successful relationship.
Unlike accession candidates in the western Balkans or eastern Europe, Iceland does not need EU structural funds to build infrastructure or boost living standards. High per capita wealth generally insulates its population from the economic pressures that can make EU membership an attractive financial proposition. As part of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Schengen passport-free travel area, Iceland is already solidly within the European fold.
It accepts free movement of goods, capital, services and people. Its markets – financial services, energy, transport – are EU-regulated and its social and environmental standards are those of the EU. That means it adopts roughly 75% of EU law and directives into domestic law and there is no question of changing that.
Icelandic citizens already enjoy full EU single-market rights without full EU membership, and that, a narrow majority decided, was, on balance, good enough. Although the official reaction in Brussels was muted, some acknowledged EU dismay. The centrist MEP Sandro Gozi, who represents France, called it “a warning Europe should take seriously”, adding that the bloc’s “power of attraction” should not be taken for granted.
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