, Aug. 29 -- Icelanders will vote Saturday on whether the country should restart negotiations to join the European Union, more than a decade after its previous membership talks were suspended.

The referendum comes as Iceland reassesses its ties with Europe amid economic pressures at home and rising geopolitical uncertainty across the North Atlantic.

The result is expected to be close.

What are Icelanders voting on?

The nationwide referendum on Aug. 29 will ask voters a straightforward question: Should Iceland reopen negotiations on EU membership?

The Althingi, Iceland's parliament, approved the referendum in May by 34 votes to eight, with 14 lawmakers abstaining.

It is the first time Icelanders have been directly asked to decide thr...