Iceland votes against restarting talks on joining EU
Sunday, 30 August 2026
Warm-up
- What comes to mind when you hear European Union?
- Would you vote for or against joining a regional bloc? Why?
- Which industries are most important for your country’s exports?
Vocabulary
- referendum
- a public vote in which people decide one specific question
- turnout
- the share of eligible voters who actually voted
- eligible
- having the legal right to do something, such as to vote
- eurosceptic
- critical of the European Union and closer integration
- accession
- the process of joining an organisation or treaty
- customs union
- an area where members share common trade rules and tariffs
- maritime
- relating to the sea, ships, or activities on the water
- lucrative
- producing a lot of money or profit
Reading
Iceland has voted against resuming talks on joining the European Union, 13 years after negotiations were halted. Public broadcaster RUV said 52.8% of 225,031 voters rejected the plan and 47.2% supported it, a gap of about 12,600 votes. Turnout was 82.5%, with roughly 270,000 people eligible to vote, the highest since 2009.
Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir’s centre-left government had promised a referendum by 2027 but brought it forward amid international tensions, including US President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland. Yet the debate focused more on fishing than security. Fishing rights remain the key obstacle, as in 2013 when a eurosceptic government froze talks. Fish and marine industries make up almost 40% of exports, and many feared losing control of lucrative fishing grounds under the EU’s common fisheries policy.
Iceland already belongs to the single market and the Schengen area. Full membership would add the customs union and, eventually, the euro. The No result does not close the door: accession negotiations could resume in future. Iceland is a founder member of Nato, has no military, relies on allies, backs Ukraine, and has noted increased maritime manoeuvres near the island.
Comprehension
- What percentage voted against resuming EU talks?
- Roughly how many votes separated the two sides?
- What issue dominated the campaign debate?
- What would EU membership add beyond the single market and Schengen?
- What security concerns were mentioned in the text?
Grammar focus
Mixed conditionals
A mixed conditional joins two different times. A past cause with a present result: 'If they had left earlier, they would be here now.' (Examples constructed.)
- If negotiators had agreed to fishing terms, Iceland **would be an EU member now**.
- If voters were more worried about security now, they **would have supported** joining.
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
- If the remit (cover) ___ suppliers, auditors would have acted.
- If the firm (retain) ___ its staff, output would be higher now.
- If the board (disclose) ___ risk, trust would be higher now.
- If forecasts (include) ___ inflation, the plan would have held.
- If the ministry (fund) ___ trials, a cure would exist now.
Discussion
- Is joining a larger bloc worth giving up control of key industries?
- How do referendums compare with parliament votes in your country?
- What factors should guide accession talks for small states?
- Should security risks influence trade decisions? Why or why not?
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