Iceland voted ‘No’ to resuming membership negotiations with the European Union (EU), final referendum results showed yesterday, dealing a heavy blow to Brussels which had been keen to welcome a new wealthy member.

In a vote held Saturday, 52.8 percent of Icelanders rejected the resumption of EU entry talks suspended 13 years ago, while 47.2 percent voted ‘Yes’, according to the official tally published by RUV, the public broadcaster.

The result will be a disappointment to Brussels, which had appeared willing to compromise on thorny issues to facilitate Iceland’s accession. The result will likely bury the EU question in Iceland until at least 2028.

The country applied to join the EU in the wake of a 2009 financial crisis that devastated its economy. Membership talks were then suspended in 2013 when a eurosceptic government came to power.

Amid growing international tensions, Iceland’s government headed by PM Kristrun Frostadottir wanted to sound out Icelanders on deepening their ties to the EU.