Huge opposition outside the capital area to resuming EU membership talks tipped the result. Across all the constituencies there, more than 60 per cent were against. In Reykjavik, the support was over 55 per cent. Voter turnout was at more than 80 per cent.
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In a press conference on Sunday, the leaders of the Icelandic government said that the result of this referendum would be respected and discussions on EU membership would not start during this parliamentary term.
“Yesterday was a momentous day, first and foremost for the country’s democracy. And regarding the national referendum, and you all know I would have preferred a different outcome, we in the government always emphasised, and were honest throughout our approach, that we would respect the result,” foreign minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir said.
The next steps will be decided by the Icelandic parliament, the Althing. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir did not answer directly whether the EU membership application, that was originally sent in 2009, will be withdrawn.
“One takeaway for me is that many of those who voted no in this vote are satisfied with the EEA Agreement; therefore, it is important that we continue taking steps to strengthen our position within the EEA,” Frostadóttir said.
Both of them also noted that the cooperation between Iceland and the EU would still be strong.
