🇮🇸 | The decision of the Icelandic people to reject the reopening of accession negotiations with the European Union should not be dismissed lightly.

🔵 ECR Group Co-Chairman Nicola Procaccini said:

“The Icelandic people have made a sovereign and democratic choice, and that choice deserves to be fully respected.

“At a time when the international security environment has become far more uncertain than it was a decade ago, many expected support for reopening accession negotiations to grow. The fact that the Icelandic people nevertheless chose not to take even that first step should give Brussels pause.

“If a prosperous, democratic and outward-looking European country remains unconvinced that resuming EU membership talks might be the right path, the European Union should ask itself how it can better respect sovereignty and subsidiarity, become more effective and competitive, and focus more clearly on the areas where European cooperation adds genuine value. The European Union must reflect on this.”