Iceland deeply divided as islanders vote on EU | Euractiv

Hay bales in the fields have signs reading 'ESB, nei takk' – 'EU, no thank you'

REYKJAVÍK – Icelanders are expected to turn out in record numbers in this weekend’s crucial yes-or-no vote on whether to reopen negotiations for EU membership.

Saturday’s vote is only the young country’s fourth referendum ever – and the first of its kind on Iceland’s relationship with the EU.

Iceland opened accession talks in 2010 but suspended them after a change of government three years later.

Iceland’s Electoral Committee expects a record turnout. Already, 56,774 people have voted, around 20% of an electoral roll of roughly 270,000. Around 17,000 are voting from abroad.