Iceland votes against EU talks as Brussels stays quiet, echoing Brexit lessons

Iceland narrowly voted 52.8% to 47.2% against resuming EU membership negotiations, with Brussels delivering a notably muted response. The campaign split between sovereignty-focused opposition and a pro-EU attempt to frame the vote as about negotiations rather than full membership. Analysts warn that the EU’s neutral stance risks alienating voters and echoing past missteps, raising questions about whether Brussels should have taken a more engaged stance during the campaign.