The political stakes are high for Iceland as the country prepares for a referendum on Saturday that could push it closer to membership in the European Union.

This fiercely independent island in the North Atlantic is weighing up joining the bloc

Icelanders are voting Saturday on whether to restart talks about joining the European Union. The decision has divided the nation of 400,000 over issues of sovereignty.

The political stakes are high for Iceland as the country prepares for a referendum on Saturday that could push it closer to membership in the European Union.