French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot declared on Monday that Iceland has “absolutely nothing to lose” by entering into membership negotiations with the European Union, as the island nation prepares for a referendum on whether to revive its long-dormant accession process. Speaking during a visit to Reykjavík, Barrot emphasised that the vote, scheduled for 29 August, is not a binding decision on membership but a step toward exploring the terms of potential integration.
“The vote on August 29 does not prejudge anything. Iceland has absolutely nothing to lose by negotiating with the European Union,” Barrot told reporters, underscoring the French government’s support for Iceland’s European path.
A Decade-Long Pause
Iceland first applied for EU membership in 2009, shortly after the collapse of its financial sector during the global financial crisis. The country’s economy was severely shaken, and membership was seen as a way to stabilise and integrate more deeply with Europe. However, in 2015, the Icelandic government decided to suspend the talks, citing concerns over fisheries and other national interests. Now, more than a decade later, the question is back on the table.
The upcoming referendum comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tension in the Arctic. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted on taking control of Greenland, a vast autonomous territory of Denmark. That push has alarmed both Copenhagen and Reykjavík, and has prompted Iceland to reconsider the security guarantees that EU membership could provide.
Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir said the EU’s swift and unified response to Trump’s overtures toward Greenland had demonstrated the bloc’s value. “For us it was important to see how steadfast the European Union stepped in and used its power, standing with Denmark and Greenland in that issue,” she told reporters. The episode, she added, showed that EU membership could bolster Iceland’s security, especially given that the country, though a NATO member, has no standing army.
Gunnarsdóttir also pointed to potential threats from Russia as a factor in the renewed interest in EU membership. “Joining the European Union is a way to strengthen our security against potential threats from Russia,” she said.
Security and Sovereignty
The security dimension is a relatively new driver for Iceland’s EU debate. Historically, the main obstacles to membership have been the Common Fisheries Policy and agricultural subsidies. But the changing geopolitical landscape, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and the US pressure on Greenland, has shifted the calculus for many Icelanders. The EU’s recent moves to deepen ties with Ukraine, including the drone pact and accession talks advanced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to Kyiv, have also underscored the bloc’s role as a security actor.
Barrot’s visit to Reykjavík is part of a broader French diplomatic push to engage with Nordic and Arctic states. France has been a vocal supporter of EU enlargement, including for Western Balkan countries, and sees Iceland’s potential membership as a way to strengthen the Union’s northern flank.
The referendum on 29 August is advisory, not binding, but it is expected to shape the government’s next steps. If Icelanders vote in favour, the government could formally request to resume negotiations with Brussels. The process would likely take years, given the complexity of the issues involved.
For now, the message from Paris is clear: Iceland has nothing to lose by talking. Whether that will be enough to overcome long-standing domestic scepticism remains to be seen.
