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Iceland rejects restarting EU accession talks in referendum
Icelanders voted to reject reopening EU membership talks, official results showed Sunday, dealing a blow to the government's push to join the bloc and handing a win to those who argued the country's prized fishing waters were too important to risk. The results will disappoint Brussels, which had hoped to welcome the Nordic country as a new member.
GlobeSignal-AIhigh certainty
- Why it matters
- The government cannot pursue EU accession without public support. The vote blocks its stated policy objective, at least until it builds broader backing for the move.
- Most affected
- Iceland's government — Cannot restart EU accession talks without holding another referendum or reversing course.
Fishing industry and communities dependent on Iceland's waters — Their opposition to EU rules on fishing access has prevailed in the vote. - Likely next
- Whether Iceland's government pursues another referendum, seeks fresh talks anyway, or formally abandons the accession bid.