Icelander say No to reengaging talks to join EU

Icelandic voters reject a referendum

on restarting negotiations to join the European Union.

In Reykjavik, the only part of the nation where a majority supported

restarting the talks, voters reflected on what the result means for

Iceland's future, while the prime minister keeps an open mind about

another future referendum.

With 52.8% Icelanders casting a 'No' vote on Sunday, any hopes

for the nation restarting talks to join the European Union officially comes

to an end, at least for now.

While Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottirs says she

did not see the loss as a setback for her coalition government but

as a win for democracy as more than 82% of the eligible 270,000 voters

cast ballots.

She says the results reflect the nation is currently

happy with the existing European Economic Area agreement,

though she is not ruling out future attempts to reopen the issue.

Despite the prime minster saying another referendum is not "at the top of the agenda"

for the next two years, the uncertainty is what some voters in Reykjavik, the only

part of the nation that voted in support of engaging in EU talks, precisely fear.

This voter says a lack of definitive answers about what an EU deal would

mean, pointing specifically to fishing policies, could bring the issue back again in the future.

Another voter says there are plenty reasons why those who voted against

it are weary of what the EU represents. However, he thinks the organisation

has evolved over the years and so, too, can public opinion.