Iceland voters reject resuming European Union accession talks
A referendum in Iceland ended with a narrow majority against restarting negotiations on joining the European Union, according to published results.
Icelandic voters have rejected a proposal to reopen talks on joining the European Union, according to referendum results released on Sunday. The vote leaves the country outside the bloc and halts a process that had been under discussion again in recent months.
Euronews reported that 52.8% of voters opposed resuming accession negotiations, while 47.2% backed the move. France 24 also reported that the referendum result closed off the prospect of restarting the membership process for now.
The ballot asked whether Iceland should return to formal talks with the EU after years in which the issue had remained politically sensitive. Asharq Al-Awsat said the vote came after a campaign focused on the country's future relationship with Europe.
Iceland first applied for EU membership in 2009, but the accession process later stalled. The latest referendum keeps that question unresolved in domestic politics.
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