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Iceland has voted against resuming talks on joining the European Union 13 years after they were broken off.<\/b><\/p>\n
Public broadcaster RUV reported that 52.8% of 225,031 voters rejected the government’s proposal, while 47.2% had said yes. Some 12,600 votes separated them.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Kristr\u00fan Frostad\u00f3ttir’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.<\/p>\n
However, debate in this island nation of almost 400,000 people centred more on its fishing industry rather than security concerns.<\/p>\n
With some 270,000 people eligible to vote, RUV reported the turnout of 82.5% was the highest in any election in Iceland since 2009.<\/p>\n
Already part of the EU’s single market and Schengen border-free zone, EU membership would bring Iceland into the customs union and eventually the euro.<\/p>\n
Iceland began its application to join the EU in 2009 in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and the collapse of Iceland’s banking system.<\/p>\n
Its application was already well advanced when a eurosceptic government came to power in 2013 and put talks on hold. Fishing rights was the biggest obstacle then – as it remains today.<\/p>\n
Fish and marine industries account for almost 40% of Iceland’s exports and many No voters feared they would cede some control of their lucrative fishing grounds under the EU’s common fisheries policy.<\/p>\n
The referendum campaign fuelled debate about Iceland’s place in the world, Kristr\u00fan said after casting her ballot in the capital on Saturday.<\/p>\n
“This is a great day, we’ve been waiting for this for years to be able to have a vote,” Kristr\u00fan said, adding that her government would continue its work regardless of the outcome.<\/p>\n
The question on the ballot was: “Should Iceland resume accession negotiations with the European Union?”<\/p>\n
A Yes vote would not have been a final decision on joining the EU, but a move towards an accession agreement, which would then have to be approved by a second referendum. <\/p>\n
Equally, the No vote does not rule out the chance of Iceland resuming talks in the future.<\/p>\n
While economic issues dominated the referendum campaigns, security concerns also featured. <\/p>\n
Iceland is a founder member of Nato but it has no military and relies on its allies for defence.<\/p>\n
The country has backed Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion and officials have been alarmed by Russia’s increased maritime manoeuvres near the island.<\/p>\n
Trump’s expressed interest in taking over Greenland has also raised concerns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n