Iceland rejects restarting EU accession talks in referendum

Icelanders have voted to stay out of the European Union, broadcaster RUV ​reported on Sunday, ‌rejecting a government push to reopen membership talks and ⁠siding with those who said Iceland's fishing waters were too important to risk.

A 'no' vote will disappoint Brussels, ‌as some officials had cast Iceland as a low-risk case that could ⁠help ease scepticism toward EU enlargement and strategically strengthen the bloc when Arctic security is in focus. 

The government had framed its membership ​plan as a "now or never" moment, and Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir ‌told voters in August that a "no" would put all EU speculation aside.

"Yes" campaigners have said joining the bloc could ease high interest rates and offer more security ‌in a world unsettled by war in Ukraine and US President Donald Trump's rhetoric about annexing another Arctic ​island Greenland.

"No" campaigners said EU membership would threaten the island's sovereignty and fishing waters.

The referendum campaign has fuelled debate about Iceland's place in the world, Prime ​Minister Kristrun Frostadottir told reporters after casting her ballot in the capital ​on Saturday.

"This is a great day. We've been waiting ​for this for years to be able to have a vote," Frostadottir said, adding that her government would continue ​its work regardless of the outcome.

Iceland first applied to join the EU in 2009 when a financial crisis hit the country's small, exposed economy. A Eurosceptic government ended talks in 2013.

Geopolitical turmoil including war in the Middle East and US ⁠import tariffs has brought urgency to an issue Icelanders have debated on and off for decades.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)