Iceland voters reject EU accession talks

Iceland's citizens have voted against restarting accession talks with the European Union, according to final referendum results released on Sunday. The "No" side won with 52.8% of the votes, while the "Yes" side received 47.2% support, as confirmed by public broadcaster RUV. The capital, Reykjavik, was the only region where voters backed the referendum.

Out of 270,000 eligible voters, 82% participated in the vote. Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir, who supported the "yes" campaign, expressed that the result was a victory for democracy, citing the high voter turnout. She pledged that her government would not pursue accession talks this term but would maintain a strong relationship with the European Economic Area.

EU chief Antonio Costa acknowledged the democratic choice of Iceland's voters, stating that the bloc respects it. The decision ends debates over Iceland's potential EU membership, which has been a contentious issue for nearly two decades. The fisheries sector, which is predominantly opposed to EU membership, was a significant concern for voters, as 90% of industry players were against the idea.