A country that has long pursued an independent policy and defended its fishing interests is now preparing to hold a referendum on EU membership. It is said that this process was spurred by US President Donald Trump's statements about Greenland.
Statements about Greenland have raised concerns
According to The Irish Times, interest in external security issues has sharply increased among Iceland's population and political circles. In particular, Trump's statements about Greenland, Iceland's close neighbor, have sparked serious discussions in the country.
Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir emphasized that foreign policy has now become one of the main topics for voters. According to her, a referendum on starting membership negotiations with the European Union could be held as early as this summer.
A NATO country without an army is seeking security guarantees
Iceland, with a population of about 400,000, is the only NATO country in the world without a military. Until now, the country has mainly relied on the United States for security.
However, sharp and unexpected political signals from Washington have prompted Reykjavik to seek new security mechanisms. Therefore, EU membership is seen not only as an economic but also as a strategic guarantee for the country.
Inflation and high prices have also increased interest in the EU
The article notes that the country's inflation rate has reached 5.2 percent, which is significantly higher than the European Union average.
As a result, the prices of food products, including hot dogs popular among Icelanders, have also risen sharply. According to some economists, joining the EU and adopting the euro could help stabilize prices in the country.
Fisheries — the main point of contention
At the same time, the biggest obstacle to Iceland's accession to the European Union could be the fisheries sector.
A significant part of the country's economy is directly related to fishing. Local fishermen are concerned that the EU's quotas and restrictions could harm Iceland's interests.
According to some analysts, Brussels may be ready to make certain concessions in fisheries policy to bring Iceland into its ranks.
Initial public opinion polls show that the population is almost evenly divided. Therefore, the EU issue is expected to become the most heated topic in Iceland's political life in the coming months.
