Many who voted ‘no’ reportedly worried that joining the bloc would put Iceland’s lucrative fishing industry under greater outside control
Icelanders voted to reject reopening talks to join the European Union, with 52.8% opposing the proposal and 47.2% supporting it, according to public broadcaster RUV.
The referendum shows that the Nordic nation of nearly 400,000 people prioritized domestic sovereignty and resources. It is the only NATO member without its own military.
Many who voted “no” reportedly worried that joining the bloc would put Iceland’s lucrative fishing industry under greater outside control.
Meanwhile, supporters argued that EU membership could boost Iceland’s economy and strengthen its geopolitical position.
The outcome deals a blow to the EU’s efforts to expand its membership and strengthen its strategic presence in the Arctic, the New York Times reported.
The country initially applied to join the EU in 2009; it ended the process in 2015.