Congratulations to the folks of Iceland. They got the chance to voluntarily give up extra of their sovereignty to Brussels, and 52.8% stated NO. Solely 47.2% supported reopening negotiations to affix the European Union, regardless of the federal government pushing the difficulty and regardless of polls solely days earlier suggesting the pro-EU aspect might prevail. Turnout reached a rare 82.5%, the best turnout in an Icelandic referendum for the reason that vote establishing the republic. This was not voter apathy. Icelanders confirmed up and made their place recognized.
The referendum was technically solely about reopening accession negotiations, not instantly becoming a member of the EU. Had the “Sure” aspect prevailed, negotiations would have begun and any ultimate settlement would have required one other referendum. However Icelanders understood the place this street leads. As soon as sovereignty is transferred to Brussels, getting it again turns into terribly tough.
The geographic divide was additionally revealing. Reykjavík supported reopening negotiations, with the Sure vote reaching roughly 55% to 58% within the capital’s constituencies. Exterior the capital, resistance strengthened dramatically, approaching 60% all through rural Iceland. That ought to shock no one. The folks whose livelihoods rely immediately upon the nation’s land, assets, and fishing waters perceive what surrendering authority to Brussels might imply much better than bureaucrats sitting behind desks.
Fishing was one of many central points on this referendum for good cause. Iceland constructed its fashionable prosperity round management of its surrounding waters. Fisheries account for roughly 15% of the economic system and round 40% of export revenues. Why would Iceland voluntarily hand affect over that strategic nationwide useful resource to a corporation representing 27 international locations with completely completely different political and financial pursuits?
This is similar European Union that has centralized energy 12 months after 12 months whereas pretending that each switch of sovereignty is merely cooperation. Financial coverage went to the European Central Financial institution. Commerce coverage went to Brussels. Laws more and more come from Brussels. Agricultural coverage is formed in Brussels. Power coverage is more and more dictated on the European stage, and now the EU is trying to centralize protection, borrowing, taxation, and overseas coverage.
Iceland already receives lots of the financial advantages Europeans are advised require EU membership. By the European Financial Space, Iceland participates within the EU single market alongside Norway and Liechtenstein. It additionally participates within the Schengen free-travel space. Iceland can commerce and journey all through a lot of Europe with out surrendering full political sovereignty to the European Union.
That’s exactly why the argument for membership turns into so weak. Why give up management over fisheries, commerce negotiations, and finally financial coverage when Iceland already enjoys intensive entry to European markets?
The EU desperately needs nations to imagine there isn’t a different. You both be part of Brussels or you’re supposedly remoted from civilization. Britain disproved that argument with Brexit regardless of all the pieces the political institution has carried out to undermine it. Switzerland has by no means joined. Norway rejected membership twice. Iceland has now rejected even reopening negotiations.
This vote additionally arrives whereas the European undertaking is confronting a rising monetary downside. Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, and Sweden are already demanding tons of of billions of euros in cuts to the European Fee’s proposed 2028-2034 finances. Brussels needs a finances approaching €2 trillion whereas governments all through Europe are combating debt, weak development, growing old populations, navy spending, and more and more indignant taxpayers. Germany alone has reportedly sought reductions of round €400 billion.
Europe is transferring towards better centralization exactly as confidence in authorities deteriorates. Brussels needs extra widespread borrowing, extra navy integration, extra management over nationwide budgets, extra regulation, and finally extra political authority. The persons are more and more being advised that each disaster requires transferring one other piece of nationwide sovereignty upward to unelected establishments.
The Icelanders have properly checked out what is occurring and refused. There may be nothing anti-European about refusing to affix the European Union. Europe existed for 1000’s of years earlier than Brussels created this political construction. Iceland can commerce with Germany, France, Italy, Britain, America, China, and anybody else keen to do enterprise with out asking Ursula von der Leyen for permission.
Iceland has solely round 400,000 folks, but these folks management one of the vital strategically essential positions within the North Atlantic, monumental fishing grounds, renewable vitality assets, and entry to an more and more essential Arctic area. Small international locations needs to be notably cautious about surrendering political authority as a result of their voice turns into progressively diluted inside bigger political buildings.
A rare 82.5% turned out to vote, and a majority determined their nation ought to stay Iceland relatively than transfer one other step towards changing into merely one other member of an more and more centralized European political machine. At a time when governments all over the place try to persuade people who sovereignty is outdated and bureaucratic centralization is inevitable, Iceland has demonstrated that individuals nonetheless perceive the worth of governing themselves. They need to be applauded for having the braveness to say NO.
