Iceland referendum was failure of Brussels policy, not European idea, Georgian ruling party MP

The referendum in Iceland was not a failure of the European idea, but a failure of Brussels policy and a reminder that European states and their peoples stand at the foundation of the European project, Georgian Parliament European Integration Committee Chairman Levan Makashvili said during a parliamentary plenary session on Tuesday. 

Icelanders voted on August 29 on whether to resume EU accession negotiations. 52.8% voted against reopening the talks, while 47.2% supported the proposal, with voter turnout reaching 82.5%. The referendum concerned the resumption of negotiations, rather than EU membership itself.

According to Makashvili, Iceland's decision was accepted by Brussels without significant criticism, while Georgia's political choices have instead become a pretext for criticism and alleged interference in the country's internal affairs.

“Over the past weeks, we have witnessed several important developments that clearly demonstrate two major realities of modern international politics - the value of peace and stability and the necessity of protecting national interests,” Makashvili said.

He argued that Europe has been weakened as a geopolitical actor, citing what he described as the loss of cheap energy resources, technological advantages, major markets and a security umbrella.

He added“irrational and fashionable decisions,” poorly calculated steps and policies driven by the interests of others are damaging European citizens and weakening Europe as a center of business, technology, peace, order and the rule of law.

Turning to Iceland's referendum, Makashvili said Iceland had chosen to protect its key national resource and maintain a relationship with Europe that, in his view, best serves its national economy at this stage.

“Iceland's referendum was not a failure of the European idea. It was a failure of Brussels policy and a reminder that European states stand at the foundation of the European idea. Europe will not be what Brussels bureaucrats see from their windows, but what European peoples want,” he said.

Makashvili also contrasted Iceland's referendum with political developments in Georgia, arguing that those who opposed the result in Iceland did not attempt to storm state institutions or violently overthrow the government.

He said the result was understood by Brussels, but questioned why, in his view, the will expressed by Georgian voters had not received the same respect.

“The will of the people is the will of the people in Iceland, Switzerland and Georgia,” Makashvili said, calling on Brussels to respect the choices of other nations without selectivity.

He further argued that a strong Europe is in Georgia's interests and said Georgia should be a partner of the EU as an organization that respects democracy, national interests and sovereignty.

“Georgia and the Georgian people cannot be friends with bureaucrats tied to an agenda of war. At the same time, Georgia was, is and will remain a partner of the European Union as a healthy, democratic organization that respects its own and others' interests and sovereignty,” Makashvili said.

He expressed hope that European leaders would act according to their national interests rather than at the direction of informal interest groups, arguing that this would benefit both European countries and EU-Georgia relations.