Iceland rejects continuing EU accession talks

Iceland will not continue negotiations with the European Union after voters rejected doing so in a referendum, mbl.is reports. Magnús Árni Skjöld Magnússon, chairman of the European Movement, said the result was disappointing but must be respected.

“The nation has spoken. And I know that the government will respect this outcome. This is, of course, disappointing, but life goes on,” Magnússon told mbl.is.

He said he had hoped Iceland would take the initiative in its part of the world and strengthen cooperation with its closest allies and neighbouring nations.

“We are still deeply integrated into European cooperation, and are of course part of the internal market and Schengen. We simply need to work for our interests within that system,” he said.

Magnússon added that the question of Iceland’s position in the world would remain relevant, particularly if tensions in the country’s surroundings continued.

He said the result resembled referendums on European issues in other countries where public opinion was divided. He cited the 2016 Brexit referendum and France’s 2005 referendum on the constitutional treaty, which voters rejected.