In a referendum held in Iceland, the majority of voters voted against resuming talks on the country's membership in the European Union (EU).
Modern.az reports that, based on the vote count, 52.8 percent of voters opposed the resumption of talks, while 47.2 percent supported it. Voter turnout in the referendum was 82.5 percent.
Opponents of EU integration stated that membership could limit Iceland's sovereignty and negatively affect the country's fishing and agricultural sectors.
Those who supported the resumption of talks believed that closer integration with the EU would result in economic advantages, including a reduction in inflation and interest rates.
It should be noted that Iceland first applied for EU membership in 2009. However, membership talks were suspended in 2013.
