Iceland's EU Referendum: A Close Call on Reopening Membership Talks

Iceland is holding a referendum on whether to reopen negotiations for European Union membership. The vote is seen as too close to call, with polls indicating that the 'yes' camp has a narrow lead of just 2.6 points over the 'no' camp.

The referendum asks voters if they want Iceland to resume accession talks with the EU, which would not automatically mean the country joins the union. Instead, it would send the government back to Brussels to negotiate a deal that would need to be approved by all 27 member states and ratified through another referendum in Iceland.

The issue of EU membership has been a contentious one in Iceland, with some arguing that joining the union would give the country more influence over rules that already affect its economy and society. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir has described the vote as 'an opportunity,' saying it's not a final decision.

However, opponents of EU membership argue that joining the union would mean ceding lawmaking authority, trade policy, and potentially even control over Icelandic fishing grounds to Brussels. They also point out that support for full membership is consistently lower than support for reopening talks, with around 40% of voters expressing a preference for joining the EU.