Iceland is set to hold a referendum on joining the European Union on August 29, 2026, but a leading political scientist is urging voters to reject the proposal. Professor Haraldur Ólafsson, who heads the 'no' campaign, argues that EU membership would be a catastrophic mistake for the Nordic nation.
Expert Warns of Economic and Democratic Risks
Ólafsson, whose Keep In Control campaign echoes the UK's Brexit-era 'Take Back Control' slogan, told The Telegraph: "I would suggest that becoming a member of the European Union is the worst business idea Iceland could think of, and being a member is a huge step away from democracy as we know it." He noted that Iceland already enjoys access to the EU's single market and maintains its own trade and fishing policies, making full membership redundant. "The conclusions we can draw from Brexit are that you are not supposed to leave the EU. They would make it as difficult as possible, and if we had the euro, it would go from being difficult to being impossible," he added.
Accelerated Timeline Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir's centre-left coalition government, elected in 2024, originally planned to hold a vote by 2027. However, the timeline was accelerated by nearly a year following threats from US President Donald Trump aimed at Greenland. The referendum will take place on August 29, 2026.
Historical Context and Fishing Concerns
This is not Iceland's first flirtation with EU membership. The country applied to join the bloc in 2009 after the 2008 global financial crisis, but negotiations were suspended in 2013 when a centre-right government took power, and talks formally ended in 2015. A key concern for opponents is the potential loss of control over Iceland's lucrative North Atlantic fishing grounds, which could be forced open to European nations under EU common fisheries policy.
The outcome of the referendum remains uncertain, with both camps campaigning vigorously. Ólafsson's warning highlights the perceived irreversibility of EU membership, drawing parallels to the UK's difficult Brexit process.
