Pawel concedes defeat as Icelanders reject EU talks

Pawel Bartoszek, chairman of Iceland’s foreign affairs committee and a Reform Party MP, has congratulated the no side on winning a vote on whether to continue accession talks with the European Union, mbl.is reports.

In a video shared on Facebook, Bartoszek said the result was clear and that the dispute could now be set aside.

“The result is clear, and we will work with it. Now we simply need to move on and put this divisive issue aside,” he said.

According to the result, 53 percent of Icelanders voted against continuing the talks.

Bartoszek said the yes side had succeeded in building a strong movement and welcomed the fact that a majority of voters in the capital region had supported continuing negotiations.

“But a defeat is a defeat. There is no point in glossing over it. Of course I am disappointed by it,” he said.

Bartoszek spoke to mbl.is after the foreign minister met with the foreign affairs committee. He said several issues had been raised that made it appropriate for the committee to meet the minister again soon.

He said the discussions should include Iceland’s relations with the EU and other neighbouring countries, as well as protecting Iceland’s interests within European Economic Area cooperation.