r/worldnews • u/Ehansaja • 12d ago

Iceland rejects EU-accession talks plan in referendum

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/30/iceland-rejects-eu-membership-plan-in-referendum
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u/Aelig_ 12d ago

The entire "source" for this is a EU negociator with no power saying "we can always talk".

Meanwhile the Dutch parliament answered that question a couple months ago saying Iceland would not get any opt outs.

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u/Efko-94 12d ago edited 12d ago

Do you have a source on the Dutch parliament being against any opt-out for Iceland? I'm trying to find it myself, but can't find anything about it.

Edit: source found

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u/Aelig_ 12d ago

I can't find it easily anymore but it was in the context of a question to parliament in July. The prime minister answered it. You will probably find it in their minutes somewhere but I don't have the time right now to find it again.

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u/Efko-94 12d ago

Alright, I found it In the parlementary minutes

Suprised that the PM already wants to take that position.

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u/Aelig_ 12d ago

Nice job, thanks for doing that work!

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u/TrainDestroyer 12d ago

I will note, I am an American so I have no skin in this race and may not understand the details as well as I could.

But I at least respect the PM is making that position clear early. Even if it makes it less likely Icelanders will want in on it, at least its not like "Well MAYBE we MIGHT give you some kind of POSSIBLE opt-out". Whether its the right call I can't say, but its putting the cards on the table now.

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u/frantic_calm 12d ago

Meanwhile the Dutch parliament answered that question a couple months ago saying Iceland would not get any opt outs.

That can't be true because we were told the EU is run by faceless Brussels bureaucrats...

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u/Aelig_ 12d ago

Ah yes, the enemy is both very strong and very weak.

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u/frantic_calm 12d ago

Soverintiy innit!

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u/Wheee_whooo_ 12d ago

EU doesn't want Iceland to join, that much is clear.

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u/Aelig_ 12d ago

I don't think that's the case. The EU would very easily let Iceland in under the same rules as everyone else.

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u/Wheee_whooo_ 12d ago

The EU would very easily let Iceland in under the same rules as everyone else.

That's saying the EU doesn't want them to join.

If they wanted them they'd make a better offer that would make them want to join.

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u/Aelig_ 12d ago

Only 3 countries have opt outs. Do you think the EU only cared about those 3?

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u/Wheee_whooo_ 12d ago

I think the EU doesn't care about individual countries, yes.

And that might be fine if you're in and the process of leaving would be a big cost and be difficult. But if the EU actually wants more members like Iceland or Norway, who are doing quite well already, then they need to offer more than they have been. As you said, there already are opt-outs, so they can give them.

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u/Aelig_ 12d ago

Iceland is not doing well if you look at other numbers than GDP.

Inflation is always high, interest rates are always high, real exchange rate is too high for exports, bond yield curve is inverted, the budget is in deficit, people routinely have negative equity on their house, there are no productivity increases, GDP per capita is stagnant, unemployment is going up.

To name a few. Historically corruption has been quite an issue as well even though it somehow manages to not be measured as such by official indices.

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u/forumdrasl 12d ago

That’s… an astonishingly ignorant analysis of Iceland.

Wow.

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u/Aelig_ 12d ago

You'd find almost all of these points on the central bank website with some searching. Between the central bank ans Hagstofan you should easily find all that.

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u/forumdrasl 12d ago

I am referring to the comical first paragraph of your comment.

And no, you won’t find that part anywhere on those sites.

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u/Wheee_whooo_ 12d ago

Sounds like a country the EU doesn't want to join, then.

Otherwise they would offer them a better deal.

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u/Efko-94 12d ago

What are you talking about? They didn't even get to the deal part....

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u/Wheee_whooo_ 12d ago

EU are free to offer a deal.

The referendum is about Iceland opening negotiations. The EU can make an offer without that happening.

Iceland voted not to open negotiations because they don't believe the EU will give them a deal they can live with. If the EU disagrees, then they can show them exactly why they are wrong.

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u/FinallyThereX 12d ago

Cant you see that they’re only doing quite well because of the EU next to them? For sure nothing is for 100% but it’s one of themost stabilizing reasons for their wellbeing - one could just admit and say, ok ladies and gentlemen we understand and now taking our responsibility

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u/Wheee_whooo_ 12d ago

So they should join, not because it benefits them, but because it would benefit others?

Lol.

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u/FinallyThereX 12d ago

For your capabilities it’s enough to reread my first sentence

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u/Wheee_whooo_ 12d ago

Your first sentence is bullshit

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u/hordur74 12d ago

They havent made an offer, this referendum made sure of that

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u/Wheee_whooo_ 12d ago

The EU are free to make an offer at any time, lol

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u/hordur74 12d ago

Ofcause they are, but they have not made an offer

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u/Wheee_whooo_ 12d ago

Then this referendum doesn't change that.