Iceland voted against reopening negotiations to join the European Union, as a preference to retain national control over fishing and other local priorities outweighed fears raised by President Donald Trump’s threat to seize neighboring Greenland.
Results in the national referendum showed the measure, which asked a single yes/no question about reopening talks with the E.U., showed 52.8 percent for no and 47.2 percent for yes, the National Electoral Commission said.
The vote took place more than a decade after the country’s previous talks to join the E.U. collapsed over disagreements about fishing limits.
A push to renew membership talks was prompted by Trump’s threats to seize Greenland. In public remarks, Trump several times mistakenly referred to Greenland as Iceland.
Supporters of E.U. membership said it would insulate Iceland, a NATO member, from geopolitical instability. Opponents, meanwhile, argued the bloc could infringe on Iceland’s decision-making, including in fishing and farming.
The result showed a sharp divide between the capital, Reykjavik, where a majority backed yes, and rural regions.
While Iceland is not an E.U. member, it is part of the bloc’s common economic market.
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