Iceland EU referendum on a knife edge as counting continues
Icelandic voters have rejected a proposal to resume negotiations for European Union membership. The decision was largely driven by concerns over protecting the nation's vital fishing industry from EU regulations.
Why it matters
The referendum outcome solidifies Iceland's status outside the EU, highlighting the ongoing tension between national sovereignty over natural resources and regional economic integration.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir said the issue would not be revisited while her government remained in power
Iceland has voted against resuming talks on joining the European Union 13 years after they were broken off.
Public broadcaster RUV reported that 52.8% of the more than 225,000 people who voted had rejected the government's proposal, while 47.2% had backed it. Some 12,600 votes separated them.
Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir's centre-left government promised to hold a referendum by 2027, but brought it forward because of international tensions, including US President Donald Trump's threats against Greenland.
However, debate in this island nation of almost 400,000 people centred more on its fishing industry rather than security concerns.
With some 270,000 people eligible to vote, RUV reported the turnout of 82.5% was the highest in any Icelandic election since 2009.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in