celand’s voters have rejected a proposal to resume negotiations on joining the European Union, bringing a long-running debate over EU membership to end.
According to the country’s national broadcaster, around 53% of voters opposed the government’s proposal to restart membership talks.
The referendum was held yesterday amid US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to control nearby Greenland, which drove some voters to favour the idea of European solidarity.
Supporters of restarting negotiations argued that EU membership could help lower inflation and interest rates. They also said adopting the euro could provide greater economic stability than Iceland’s volatile krona.
However, opponents argued that country already enjoys significant benefits from the EU through access to the single market and participation in the Schengen free-travel zone, without having to accept the obligations of full membership.