Why We Said Nei to the EU

Icelanders have given their verdict on joining the European Union. In a referendum on resuming accession talks with Brussels, 53 per cent voted No.

It is a telling moment. A small population was faced with a vitally important choice between national sovereignty and joining a huge bloc of nations overseen by the world’s most formidable bureaucracy. And it voted for national sovereignty.

The referendum was declared in March this year. The leaders of Iceland’s governing coalition parties – the Social Democratic Alliance, the Reform Party and the People’s Party – held an unexpected Friday press conference to announce that parliament’s schedule on Monday had been cleared. Only one thing would be on the agenda – a proposal for a referendum on whether to complete accession talks with the EU. The referendum was to be held in late August this year, after the summer, when Icelandic voters usually want a break from political bickering.

This came as a complete surprise to anyone who had not read a few reports that had been appearing in foreign media. These claimed that Icelandic officials had already informed Brussels that they would be seeking a referendum on restarting talks on EU membership. In fact, it seemed as though discussions on possible membership were already ongoing.