Icelanders reject resuming EU accession negotiations

Icelanders participated in a referendum on Saturday regarding the resumption of negotiations for EU membership, which had been paused in 2015. Following the financial crisis in 2009, Iceland requested to join the EU, but the talks were suspended after several years of discussions.

According to the public broadcaster RUV, with the vote counting nearly complete, the option to vote 'no' was leading with 52.5%, while support for reopening the negotiations stood at 47.5%. Only a few votes from one electoral district were still to be counted when these results were reported.

This voting takes place in a context marked by increased geopolitical tensions, including comments from the U.S. government concerning Greenland, which have impacted public opinion in Iceland. The question of EU membership has been emphasized amid these circumstances.

The Reykjavik government had placed the issue of EU membership back on the agenda, but the rejection appears to reflect concerns about protecting the country's fishing waters, which some voters consider critical to the Icelandic economy.

Disappointment was heard in Brussels, as the Icelandic rejection of reopening negotiations is seen as a setback for the island's European integration plans. This situation raises uncertainties about the future of relations between Iceland and the EU.

Voter turnout was reported to be similar to that of recent elections, reaching around 80%. The final results of the referendum are expected to be confirmed in the coming hours, but the trend indicates a clear opposition to resuming negotiations with the European Union.