Iceland's 'No' to EU Talks Deals Blow to Brussels, and to Rome

Iceland has voted against resuming European Union accession negotiations, according to final referendum results reported by The Local Italy on Sunday. The result deals a heavy blow to Brussels, which had been keen to welcome a new wealthy member, and hands a victory to eurosceptic movements across the continent.

The vote, described by The Local Italy as a 'warning to Europe,' comes at a delicate moment for the EU, which has been seeking to reinvigorate its enlargement agenda. For Italy, a founding member of the bloc and a strong advocate of EU integration, the result carries particular weight as Rome has often positioned itself as a bridge between the EU's core and its periphery.