Icelanders reject resuming EU membership talks in referendum

Iceland held a referendum on Saturday asking voters whether the country should resume negotiations with Brussels on joining the European Union. According to Iceland's public broadcaster RUV, with nearly all ballots counted, a majority of residents rejected the idea.

Vote results

Current figures show 52.5% of voters opposed resuming EU accession talks, while 47.5% were in favor. The narrow margin points to a divided public opinion on the question of closer ties with the bloc.

It should be noted that the results are based on the count of nearly, but not entirely, all ballots cast, so the final outcome could still be refined once the remaining votes are tallied.

Context

Iceland is not a member of the European Union, though it maintains close ties with the bloc through the European Economic Area and the Schengen Agreement. The question of possible EU membership has historically been contentious in Iceland, with public opinion shifting over time. The referendum result means the country will not, for now, restart a formal negotiation process on joining the union.