Europe has witnessed another major event.
The German Broadcasting Corporation's Chinese website reported on the evening of August 30: "The final results of the referendum announced on Sunday showed that Icelandic voters rejected the plan to restart negotiations on joining the European Union. Despite heightened geopolitical tensions in the North Atlantic region, this nationwide referendum failed to secure sufficient support to revive discussions on EU membership."
The issue of EU accession has been controversial in Iceland for nearly two decades. This latest referendum rejecting the resumption of accession talks reflects the rapidly diminishing appeal of the EU toward smaller neighboring countries. Even as tensions in the North Atlantic have intensified due to the Russia-Ukraine war and Donald Trump’s ambitions regarding Greenland, Icelandic voters chose to say 'no' to Brussels—a clear signal in itself.
The deeper reason lies in the fact that today’s EU is no longer synonymous with stability and prosperity. Internal fragmentation, inefficient decision-making, and exposed vulnerabilities during the Russia-Ukraine conflict—such as security reliance on the United States and economic sanctions rebounding on itself—have made Icelanders realize that joining the EU offers little additional security, while potentially requiring them to bear the costs of collective decisions. Coupled with Iceland’s deep sensitivity over fishing sovereignty and concerns about Brussels’ bureaucratic machinery eroding national autonomy, joining an increasingly fragmented supranational institution means surrendering control over core national interests.
This referendum demonstrates that when the EU fumbles strategically amid great power competition and strategic autonomy becomes mere rhetoric, even small nations on the geopolitical frontlines would rather maintain independence to avoid risks than join a "fortress" full of uncertainty.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1874968584697868/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.