<p>Icelanders voted against a referendum that would have initiated negotiations to join the European Union, reaffirming their desire to remain outside the bloc. The National Electoral Commission reported that the measure lost by a vote of 52.8% to 47.2%.</p>
<p>If the referendum had passed, it would have only restarted negotiations, with no guarantee of EU membership, as any decision would still require another referendum.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir stated before the vote, "This is a good day. We have now reached the point where this is in the hands of the nation. Either we enter these negotiations, seek a good agreement, and then see what happens, or we put the discussion about the European Union aside, at least for the time being." </p>
<p>This vote follows Iceland's previous attempt to join the EU in 2013, which was also rejected due to concerns over national sovereignty, particularly regarding fisheries. The momentum for EU discussions had diminished since then.</p>
<p>Concerns influencing the recent vote included fears that Iceland, with a population of approximately 400,000, would lack adequate representation in the EU and that its interests might be overlooked. Additionally, there was apprehension about the potential transition from the Icelandic krona to the euro.</p>
<p>Frostadóttir characterized the election results as a victory for democracy and indicated that her government would respect the outcome. She noted that significant changes would need to occur for the issue to be reconsidered in the future, stating, "Things happened in the past couple of years, though, that I could not have predicted. But this government will not go forward with it. And something big has to change in the next 24 months for this to be at the top of the agenda."</p>