Iceland votes in a tight race on whether to resume talks to join the EU

Icelanders are voting in a referendum on whether to resume membership negotiations with the European Union. The country's 400,000 residents are closely divided on the issue, with a Gallup poll suggesting a narrow majority opposed to reopening negotiations, according to The Jerusalem Post.

The campaign has focused on issues such as the cost of living, security, sovereignty, and control over fishing waters. Supporters of renewed talks argue that joining the EU could ease high interest rates and offer more security, while opponents argue that membership would threaten Iceland's sovereignty and fishing waters.

If voters choose to resume talks, it would only open the way to discussions with Brussels, and a second referendum would likely be held several years later on whether to join the EU. Iceland first applied to join the EU in 2009, amid a financial crisis, but talks were shelved in 2013 by a eurosceptic government. The issue of fisheries, a key part of Iceland's economy, would need to be negotiated with Brussels if talks resume, with The Jakarta Post reporting that the EU appears more willing to compromise this time around.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Local Sweden, Jerusalem Post, France 24, The Jakarta Post, Punch Nigeria — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.