{"id":2125370,"date":"2026-09-02T13:02:52","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T10:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2125370"},"modified":"2026-09-02T13:02:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T10:02:52","slug":"fact-check-how-inaccurate-and-conflicting-claims-may-have-affected-icelands-eu-referendum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2125370","title":{"rendered":"Fact check: How inaccurate and conflicting claims may have affected Iceland&#8217;s EU referendum"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/75\/11\/1200x675_cmsv2_37a01a7f-677d-5af4-bd48-d675fa7c2198-9897511.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2922601-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2922601\" data-cid=\"9899208\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922601-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/89\/54\/189x106_cmsv2_93854016-421e-5d89-9af6-07df6b4e0f3a-9898954.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"King Charles III of England with French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the British Museum in London, 2 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Macron, King Charles hail UK-France ties at Bayeux Tapestry exhibit\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922669-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2922669\" data-cid=\"9899181\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922669-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/04\/83\/11\/28\/189x106_cmsv2_09e2d377-a480-5cf6-a23e-fc9fc4a2ec59-4831128.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"This April 4, 2016 file photo shows Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb in Malta on Oct. 16, 2017.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Malta jury clears businessman in Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922631-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2922631\" data-cid=\"9899069\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922631-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/90\/69\/189x106_cmsv2_b4f97632-1499-5f92-b14a-ae6bf650275d-9899069.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Spanish Pedro Sanchez speaks to reporters \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spain in disarray over leaked reports about Morocco\u2019s role in Ceuta\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922524-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2922524\" data-cid=\"9898543\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922524-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/85\/43\/189x106_cmsv2_efb8ba1d-6940-5094-a07b-1ffd3e9a5b37-9898543.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"MEPs Bentele (EPP) and Germain (S&amp;D) in The Ring\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    The Ring<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The surge of the far-right &#8211; who is to blame? MEPs clash in The Ring\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922601-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2922601\" data-cid=\"9899208\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922601-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/89\/54\/189x106_cmsv2_93854016-421e-5d89-9af6-07df6b4e0f3a-9898954.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"King Charles III of England with French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the British Museum in London, 2 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Macron, King Charles hail UK-France ties at Bayeux Tapestry exhibit\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922669-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2922669\" data-cid=\"9899181\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922669-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/04\/83\/11\/28\/189x106_cmsv2_09e2d377-a480-5cf6-a23e-fc9fc4a2ec59-4831128.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"This April 4, 2016 file photo shows Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb in Malta on Oct. 16, 2017.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Malta jury clears businessman in Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922631-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2922631\" data-cid=\"9899069\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922631-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/90\/69\/189x106_cmsv2_b4f97632-1499-5f92-b14a-ae6bf650275d-9899069.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Spanish Pedro Sanchez speaks to reporters \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spain in disarray over leaked reports about Morocco\u2019s role in Ceuta\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922524-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2922524\" data-cid=\"9898543\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922524-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/85\/43\/189x106_cmsv2_efb8ba1d-6940-5094-a07b-1ffd3e9a5b37-9898543.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"MEPs Bentele (EPP) and Germain (S&amp;D) in The Ring\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    The Ring<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The surge of the far-right &#8211; who is to blame? MEPs clash in The Ring\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe Decoded<\/p>\n<p>                          The Cube<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Fact check: How inaccurate and conflicting claims may have affected Iceland&#8217;s EU referendum<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/75\/11\/1536x864_cmsv2_37a01a7f-677d-5af4-bd48-d675fa7c2198-9897511.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"The EU referendum campaign in Iceland\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              The EU referendum campaign in Iceland<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspAlessio Dell&#8217;Anna&amp;nbsp&amp;&amp;nbspTamsin Paternoster\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1788354172\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-09-02 15:02:52 +02:00\">02\/09\/2026 &#8211; 15:02 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div 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loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-share-comment-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        The Icelandic EU referendum raised a number of important issues for voters, but also a series of unclear claims.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Uncertainty over fishing quotas may have made many Icelandic voters reluctant to embark on an EU membership pathway.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The country voted no on 29 August on resuming negotiations with Brussels by 52.8%, with the talks between the two on hold since 2013. <\/p>\n<p>The campaign was fierce and, as with many crucial public votes in recent years, was also marked by inaccurate claims circulating online and among media channels.<\/p>\n<p>One of them involved the referendum&#8217;s main sticking point: fisheries.<\/p>\n<p>A few media outlets reported on talks between Iceland&#8217;s foreign affairs minister \u00deorger\u00f0ur Katr\u00edn Gunnarsd\u00f3ttir and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten about a special exemption from the EU&#8217;s Common Fisheries Policy.<\/p>\n<p>They said that Gunnarsd\u00f3ttir claimed that such exemptions were discussed and that the Dutch government strongly denied her version of events.<\/p>\n<p>However, Gunnarsd\u00f3ttir later <strong>rejected those claims<\/strong>, prompting the press to admit the story had been largely misreported.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5574282147315855\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/75\/11\/808x451_cmsv2_6c1efb6b-7be1-5722-8a63-fed4c38e4b71-9897511.jpg\" alt=\"Iceland&apos;s Foreign Affairs Minister \u00deorger\u00f0ur Katr\u00edn Gunnarsd\u00f3ttir\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Iceland&#8217;s Foreign Affairs Minister \u00deorger\u00f0ur Katr\u00edn Gunnarsd\u00f3ttir<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Yet it touched a sensitive nerve: control over fishing grounds is fiercely guarded in Iceland, so much so that it led to a series of confrontations between Iceland and the UK in the 1950s and the 1970s \u2014 known as the Cod Wars.<\/p>\n<p>Joining the EU would likely mean giving up part of its quota, under the Common Fisheries Policy, although there is no consensus on how much exactly Iceland would have to give up. <\/p>\n<p>Some experts argue the quota would be minimal, mainly involving pelagic fish species (i.e. herrings, sardines, mackerel) that migrate across the sea and so are not stationed permanently in Icelandic waters. <\/p>\n<p>However, failing to address this sensitive issue early on may have dulled voters&#8217; enthusiasm for EU membership, according to international relations expert Arno Minasian.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Iceland didn&#8217;t get to negotiate fisheries and agriculture in 2009, either,&#8221; he told Euronews&#8217; fact-checking team, The Cube. &#8220;The EU and Iceland never actually got to those chapters, which is concerning, because those are the really big, important chapters for Iceland.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/75\/11\/808x539_cmsv2_aefa0a07-ee25-503d-a2ed-ad03212fdb07-9897511.jpg\" alt=\"A fish processing plant in Grindavik, Iceland\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">A fish processing plant in Grindavik, Iceland<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP\/James Brooks<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Some 4% of Iceland&#8217;s workforce is employed in fisheries, and the sector accounts for around 8% of its GDP. &#8220;So fisheries have a lot of economic and political weight,&#8221; Minasian added.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If Iceland and the EU cannot negotiate this in the first place, it&#8217;s quite unrealistic that Icelanders would agree on imposing these quotas through the Common Fisheries Policy,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<h2>All of the obligations, none of the benefits?<\/h2>\n<p>Another misleading claim was about Iceland&#8217;s EU-related rights as a non-EU member.<\/p>\n<p>Some, such as former Prime Minister Sigmundur Dav\u00ed\u00f0 Gunnlaugsson, said that, since Iceland is already part of the European Economic Area, it already enjoys all the benefits of EU membership.<\/p>\n<p>Gunnlaugsson, who is now leader of the Centre Party, added that joining the EU would mean taking on just downsides and obligations, rather than any extra benefits.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5554209569957601\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/75\/11\/808x449_cmsv2_021ca33d-7ace-53df-88fa-ea8a1865b880-9897511.jpg\" alt=\"A banner reading &quot;no&quot; during the EU referendum campaign in Iceland\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">A banner reading &#8220;no&#8221; during the EU referendum campaign in Iceland<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>While it is true that, as a member of the European Economic Area, Reykjav\u00edk is already playing by much of the EU&#8217;s economic playbook, by not being a member of the EU itself, it has no seat at the table when the rules are defined.<\/p>\n<p>Iceland does not have votes in the European Parliament, nor a role in the European Commission. It also misses out on certain EU subsidies and funds, to name just a few.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to the cost of accessing the EU, the opposing camps cited drastically different numbers. <\/p>\n<p>The &#8220;No&#8221; front set the figure as high as <strong>\u20ac1 billion a year,<\/strong> while prominent pro-EU figures said it would be just over \u20ac50 million.<\/p>\n<p>The latter seems much closer to the truth, according to a study by the independent think tank <strong>Evropustraumar,<\/strong> which claimed Iceland&#8217;s net EU membership cost would be around \u20ac60 million a year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  The EU gave Iceland the silent treatment. It didn&#8217;t work, again<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  What does Iceland\u2019s \u201cNo\u201d vote mean for the EU\u2019s enlargement policy? <\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Iceland\u2019s &#8216;no&#8217; vote deals a blow to Brussels\u2019 security pitch to wealthy nations<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Referendum<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  European Union<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Iceland<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Fishery<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2922631-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2922631\" data-cid=\"9899069\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922631-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/90\/69\/320x180_cmsv2_b4f97632-1499-5f92-b14a-ae6bf650275d-9899069.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Spanish Pedro Sanchez speaks to reporters \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spain in disarray over leaked reports about Morocco\u2019s role in Ceuta<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2922611-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2922611\" data-cid=\"9899000\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922611-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/90\/00\/320x180_cmsv2_1119a9ac-36ed-5ca8-ba80-08b950e3c13a-9899000.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Pr\u00e9vot.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Belgium pushes back against new attempt to use Russian assets<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2922572-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2922572\" data-cid=\"9898725\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922572-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/87\/25\/320x180_cmsv2_214c706e-6f5b-58bc-8500-13eedc2d66c6-9898725.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE - 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decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922631-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2922631\" data-cid=\"9899069\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922631-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" 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Maxime Pr\u00e9vot.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Belgium pushes back against new attempt to use Russian assets<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922572-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2922572\" data-cid=\"9898725\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922572-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/87\/25\/320x180_cmsv2_214c706e-6f5b-58bc-8500-13eedc2d66c6-9898725.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE - Aeroflot&apos;s passengers planes are parked at Sheremetyevo airport, outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 1, 2022\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ukraine formally warns airlines that Russian airspace is unsafe<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922552-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2922552\" data-cid=\"9898630\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922552-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/86\/30\/320x180_cmsv2_d64dbf35-a4c3-5571-a655-403afea1acd9-9898630.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"250 gram gold bars of 999.9 purity stacked in the safe deposit boxes room in Munich, 25 April, 2025\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Netherlands moves 86 tonnes of gold from US and Canada to UK<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922524-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2922524\" data-cid=\"9898543\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2922524-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/85\/43\/320x180_cmsv2_efb8ba1d-6940-5094-a07b-1ffd3e9a5b37-9898543.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"MEPs Bentele (EPP) and Germain (S&amp;D) in The Ring\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The surge of the far-right &#8211; who is to blame? MEPs clash in The Ring<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2921916-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2921916\" data-cid=\"9895601\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Death of Germany&#8217;s richest man creates a giant charitable foundation<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922302-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2922302\" data-cid=\"9897551\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Thailand confirms it will cut visa-free stays for EU travellers<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922552-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2922552\" data-cid=\"9898630\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Netherlands moves 86 tonnes of gold from US and Canada to UK<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922307-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2922307\" data-cid=\"9897687\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ryanair&#8217;s Boeing 737 stairs tied to hundreds of passenger falls, study says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2922364-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2922364\" data-cid=\"9897774\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Zelenskyy warns \u2018Russian airspace will effectively be closing\u2019<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Uncertainty over fishing quotas may have made many Icelandic voters reluctant to embark on an EU membership pathway.The country voted no on 29 August on resuming negotiations with Brussels by 52.8%, with the talks between the two on hold since 2013.The campaign was fierce and, as with many crucial public votes in recent years, was also marked by inaccurate claims circulating online and among media channels.One of them involved the referendum&#8217;s main sticking point: fisheries.A few media outlets reported on talks between Iceland&#8217;s\u00a0foreign affairs minister \u00deorger\u00f0ur Katr\u00edn Gunnarsd\u00f3ttir and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten about a special exemption from the EU&#8217;s Common Fisheries Policy.They said that Gunnarsd\u00f3ttir claimed that such exemptions were discussed and that the Dutch government strongly denied her version of events.However, Gunnarsd\u00f3ttir later rejected those claims,\u00a0prompting the press to admit the story had been largely misreported.Yet it touched a sensitive nerve: control over fishing grounds is fiercely guarded in Iceland, so much so that it led to a series of confrontations between Iceland and the UK in the 1950s and the 1970s \u2014 known as the Cod Wars.Joining the EU would likely mean giving up part of its quota, under the Common Fisheries Policy, although there is no consensus on how much exactly Iceland would have to give up.Some experts argue the quota would be minimal, mainly involving pelagic fish species (i.e. herrings, sardines, mackerel) that migrate across the sea and so are not stationed permanently in Icelandic waters.However, failing to address this sensitive issue early on may have dulled voters&#8217; enthusiasm for EU membership, according to international relations expert Arno Minasian.&#8221;Iceland didn&#8217;t get to negotiate fisheries and agriculture in 2009, either,&#8221; he told Euronews&#8217; fact-checking team, The Cube. &#8220;The EU and Iceland never actually got to those chapters, which is concerning, because those are the really big, important chapters for Iceland.&#8221;Some 4% of Iceland&#8217;s workforce is employed in fisheries, and the sector accounts for around 8% of its GDP. &#8220;So fisheries have a lot of economic and political weight,&#8221; Minasian added.&#8221;If Iceland and the EU cannot negotiate this in the first place, it&#8217;s quite unrealistic that Icelanders would agree on imposing these quotas through the Common Fisheries Policy,&#8221; he said.All of the obligations, none of the benefits?Another misleading claim was about Iceland&#8217;s EU-related rights as a non-EU member.Some, such as former Prime Minister Sigmundur Dav\u00ed\u00f0 Gunnlaugsson, said that, since Iceland is already part of the European Economic Area, it already enjoys all the benefits of EU membership.Gunnlaugsson, who is now leader of the Centre Party, added that joining the EU would mean taking on just downsides and obligations, rather than any extra benefits.While it is true that, as a member of the European Economic Area, Reykjav\u00edk is already playing by much of the EU&#8217;s economic playbook, by not being a member of the EU itself, it has no seat at the table when the rules are defined.Iceland does not have votes in the European Parliament, nor a role in the European Commission. It also misses out on certain EU subsidies and funds, to name just a few.When it comes to the cost of accessing the EU, the opposing camps cited drastically different numbers.\u00a0The &#8220;No&#8221; front set the figure as high as \u20ac1 billion a year, while prominent pro-EU figures said it would be just over \u20ac50 million.The latter seems much closer to the truth, according to a study by the independent think tank Evropustraumar, which claimed Iceland&#8217;s net EU membership cost would be around \u20ac60 million a year.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/09\/02\/fact-check-how-inaccurate-and-conflicting-claims-may-have-affected-icelands-eu-referendum&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/89\/75\/11\/1200x675_cmsv2_37a01a7f-677d-5af4-bd48-d675fa7c2198-9897511.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Macron, King Charles hail UK-France ties at Bayeux Tapestry exhibit Europe News Malta jury clears businessman in Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case Europe News Spain in disarray over leaked reports about Morocco\u2019s role in Ceuta The Ring The surge of the far-right &#8211; who is to blame? MEPs clash in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2125370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2125370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2125370"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2125370\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2125370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2125370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2125370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}