Icelanders voted against resuming talks on joining the European Union in a referendum held Saturday, with final results announced Sunday showing 52.8 percent opposed and 47.2 percent in favor.

Public broadcaster RÚV reported the outcome after a high-turnout vote of 82.5 percent among roughly 270,000 eligible voters. The narrow margin of about 12,600 votes reflected a clear urban-rural divide, with the capital Reykjavík supporting renewed talks while rural areas rejected them by wider margins.

The ballot asked a straightforward question: whether Iceland should resume accession negotiations suspended more than a decade ago. A yes vote would have authorized talks but required a second referendum for any final membership agreement. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir's centre-left government had advanced the vote, originally slated for 2027, citing international developments including tensions in the Arctic.

Opponents emphasized protection of Iceland's fishing industry, a cornerstone of the economy, and national sovereignty over decisions on quotas and resources. Nearly 90 percent of fishing companies opposed reopening talks. Supporters argued membership could address high inflation and provide stability amid broader geopolitical shifts, but those points did not carry the day.

Iceland remains a member of the European Economic Area and the Schengen zone, maintaining close economic and travel ties with the bloc without full membership obligations. The government has indicated it will respect the result, which effectively shelves the EU question until at least 2028.

The outcome marks the second time Iceland has stepped back from EU accession since its 2009 application during the financial crisis. Previous talks ended under a prior euroskeptic administration in 2013. Brussels had signaled flexibility on fisheries and other issues to encourage participation, viewing a successful Icelandic process as a potential model for enlargement.