Iceland’s foreign minister fears ‘Brexit moment’ in country’s EU accession referendum
Summary
Iceland’s foreign minister warned of risks like misinformation and foreign influence ahead of the country’s referendum on whether to restart talks about joining the European Union. She compared the situation to the UK’s Brexit vote, cautioning that misleading information could affect the outcome. The vote, set for August 29, will decide if Iceland should continue EU membership talks, which began in 2009 but stopped in 2013.Key Facts
- Iceland will hold a referendum on August 29 to decide whether to resume talks to join the EU.
- Iceland first applied to join the EU in 2009, and talks started but stopped in 2013.
- The foreign minister, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, fears the vote could be influenced by misinformation and foreign interference, including from Russia.
- She compared the referendum risks to the UK’s Brexit vote, which was marked by false claims.
- The referendum is being watched by countries like the US, Russia, and EU member states.
- Current opinion polls show a close split, with 42% supporting and 39% opposing restarting EU talks.
- Key concerns include security, stronger ties with Europe, and impacts on Iceland’s fishing industry and sovereignty.
- The decision to hold the referendum earlier than planned was partly influenced by international tensions, such as the US attempt to buy Greenland.
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