Icelanders voted to stay out of the European Union, referendum results showed on Sunday, as they rejected a government push to reopen membership talks.
400,000 Icelanders have debated whether to join the EU and refused to start negotiations about EU membership.
“Definitely this is a clear setback for Brussels,” an EU diplomat told Reuters, adding that the issues of fishing and independence had been decisive.
In Saturday’s referendum, 52.8% of ballots cast were against the government’s proposal to hold negotiations with Brussels, 47.2% were in favour, and 82.5% of eligible voters took part, public broadcaster RUV and other Icelandic media reported.
Out of six constituencies, only the two in central Reykjavik had a majority that voted in favour, while the rural areas and the Reykjavik suburbs voted against.
Speaking after casting her ballot Saturday, Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadóttir said the referendum campaign had “lifted discussions about the EU, about Iceland’s place in the world, about our general geopolitical situation and status, to a higher level.”
She had made no secret of her own preference for “Yes,” but stressed the country would manage fine either way.
Frostadóttir had committed to shelving the EU membership question entirely for the remainder of her term — which runs until 2028 — if voters rejected reopening accession talks.
Her government had also indicated that, in a “No” scenario, it would leave the decision on whether to formally withdraw Iceland’s EU membership application up to parliament, rather than deciding unilaterally.
