REYKJAVIK, Iceland — Icelanders rejected a proposal to resume European Union membership negotiations in a referendum Saturday, with nearly 53% voting against reopening talks that have remained suspended since 2013.
About 47% of voters supported resuming the negotiations, according to referendum results. Voter turnout reached 82.5%, the highest participation in an Icelandic vote since the April 2009 parliamentary elections.
Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir, who supported resuming the talks, said the result represented a victory for democracy but confirmed that her government would not restart accession negotiations during its current term.
“I want to make it absolutely clear, this government is not going forward with the accession talks this term,” Frostadottir told reporters.
The result means Iceland will keep its EU accession process frozen at least until 2028, according to the government.
European Council President Antonio Costa said the European Union respects the decision of Icelandic voters.
“Iceland remains one of the EU’s closest and most trusted partners,” a spokesperson for Costa said.
The referendum did not legally bind the government, but officials had pledged to follow the voters’ decision.
Iceland applied to join the EU in the aftermath of the 2009 financial crisis, which severely affected the country’s economy. A eurosceptic government suspended membership talks in 2013.
Iceland remains closely connected to the European Union through the European Economic Area and the Schengen free-movement zone. Saturday’s vote does not change those arrangements.
The campaign focused largely on domestic and economic concerns, including fishing, which remains a major part of Iceland’s economy and national identity.
Supporters of EU membership argued that renewed negotiations could give Iceland an opportunity to evaluate the benefits of joining the bloc. Opponents, particularly within the fishing industry, argued that membership could threaten Iceland’s control over its fishing resources.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos had said the bloc was willing to find solutions that would account for Iceland’s concerns about fisheries and agriculture.
The referendum also drew reactions from European eurosceptic leaders.
France’s Marine Le Pen said the result demonstrated support for a Europe of independent nations, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage congratulated Icelanders for choosing to retain their independence.
The vote exposed divisions within Iceland over the country’s future relationship with Europe. Analysts said Frostadottir’s government could emerge politically weakened but did not expect it to resign solely because of the referendum result.
