Iceland’s freezing temperatures typically last about five months of the year, but the government has chosen a balmy summer day for its pivotal national referendum. On Saturday, residents of the Nordic island are voting on another un-thawing of sorts – whether to restart long-frozen talks to join the European Union.

The Nordic country has long evaded the bloc. After a referendum on Saturday, that might change.

Icelanders are to vote Saturday on whether to resume entry talks with the European Union amid growing global insecurity, in a referendum seen as going down to the wire.