Close race as Iceland votes on whether to restart talks on joining EU
Iceland is holding a national referendum to decide whether to resume negotiations for European Union membership. The vote is highly contested, with public opinion split over concerns regarding the fishing industry and national sovereignty.
Why it matters
The outcome could significantly alter Iceland's economic policy and its relationship with the European single market.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images Image caption, Latest opinion polls have been so close that the result is impossible to call
Icelanders are voting in a referendum to decide whether to resume talks on joining the European Union, 13 years after they were broken off.
In an indication of how tight the result is expected to be, the latest opinion poll put the No campaign in the lead with 51.6%. An earlier poll had put the Yes campaign ahead.
Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir's centre-left government had already intended to hold a referendum, but turbulent international affairs prompted her to bring it forward.
But the debate was fought less over Nato member Iceland's security concerns than over its vital fishing industry and sovereignty.
Voting is due to go on from 09:00 to 22:00 GMT on Saturday and the result is expected in the early hours of Sunday.
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