He continued: “They constantly emphasized that it was only a question of ‘finding out what the EU is willing to offer us’, ‘taking a peek inside the gift package’, and then deciding later. The people said, ‘No thanks!’”

The referendum — which asked the question “Should Iceland resume accession negotiations with the European Union?” — was advisory in nature and does not change any national law or compel any action. But any action to advance Iceland toward membership without a mandate from the voters would be seen as politically suicidal.

Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, leader of the similarly eurosceptic Independence Party, urged the government to abandon all future initiatives for EU membership or risk damaging Iceland’s friendly relationship with the bloc.

“The best way to heal the wounds is for the government to listen to the conclusion and put this path aside,” she told RUV, the national broadcaster. “Because we want to remain in close contact with the European Union, Europe and as many other countries as possible, the nation is sending a clear message that we intend to steer that course ourselves.”

Celebration of the referendum’s result was not limited to Iceland itself. Eurosceptic politicians from across the continent — some of whom are currently running anti-EU campaigns in their own countries — lauded the voters’ decision as a blow against the alliance.

In France, National Rally leader Marine Le Pen praised Icelandic voters for delivering a “crystal-clear message.”

“By rejecting through referendum the resumption of accession negotiations with the European Union, the Icelandic people have recalled an obvious truth: membership in the European Union is not the natural horizon for every European democracy,” Le Pen said in a statement. “At a time when some are pushing for greater federalism and the transfer of sovereignty to the European Commission, this vote reminds us that another Europe is possible, an Europe of free, sovereign nations cooperating voluntarily on matters of common interest.”

In Britain, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage issued a statement congratulating the island country for “voting to keep their independence.”

HOW TRUMP’S GREENLAND OVERTURES HAVE SPILLED INTO CIELAND’S REFERENDUM ON JOINING EU

President Donald Trump’s bellicose demands for American ownership of neighboring Greenland were a significant consideration in Iceland’s debates about EU membership.

Encroachments of Russian and Chinese vessels in the surrounding Arctic region are seen as a national security threat, and the White House maintains that the United States must be able to operate without hindrance around Greenland to address emerging risks.

During the joint Northern Viking exercise conducted in Iceland between almost a dozen NATO member states earlier this month, NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, grimly joked that “supposed Russian and Chinese research vessels are conducting joint patrols” in the region but “we all know they’re not up here counting puffins.”

Trump has, on occasion, mixed up the names of Greenland and Iceland when talking about his expansionist aims — highlighting the proximity of the two nations and the uncertainty of future sovereignty.