Majority of Icelanders reject resuming European Union membership talks — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): A majority of Icelandic voters have rejected restarting negotiations on joining the European Union (EU), according to the official results of a national referendum. The results show that 52.8% of voters opposed resuming EU accession talks, while 47.2% voted in favor. The referendum was held on Saturday, and the official results were announced on Sunday by Iceland’s state broadcaster RUV. RUV reported that “the public rejected restarting negotiations on joining the European Union.” According to the report, the outcome is considered a political setback for the European Union, as Brussels had supported Iceland’s membership and had shown willingness to compromise on disputes over fishing rights and several other issues. Ahead of the vote, the Icelandic government said the referendum could determine the future of the country’s EU membership debate for years to come. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir had said before the referendum that if voters rejected the proposal, EU membership would not return to her government’s political agenda during its current term, which runs until 2028. Supporters argued that joining the EU could help reduce Iceland’s high interest rates and strengthen the country’s economic and political security. Opponents, however, said EU membership could threaten Iceland’s national sovereignty and its fishing industry. According to the report, about 90% of companies in Iceland’s fishing sector opposed joining the European Union….