France urges Iceland to reopen EU membership talks ahead of key referendum

Tuesday 21 July 2026 - 08:00

By: Sahili Aya

France urges Iceland to reopen EU membership talks ahead of key referendum

France has encouraged Iceland to reopen negotiations on joining the European Union, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot arguing that Reykjavik has "nothing to lose" by restarting the accession process ahead of a decisive national referendum.

Speaking alongside Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir in Reykjavik, Barrot stressed that the August 29 referendum is not a vote on EU membership itself but rather on whether Iceland should resume negotiations with the bloc after more than a decade of suspension.

According to the French minister, reopening talks would allow Iceland to assess the opportunities offered by a changing European landscape without committing immediately to full membership.

Barrot said relations between Iceland and the European Union have evolved significantly since the country first applied for membership in 2009, following the financial crisis that severely affected its economy. Formal accession negotiations were launched but officially halted in 2015 after a change in political priorities.

The French diplomat argued that both Europe and Iceland have changed since then, suggesting that renewed discussions could provide a framework for evaluating common economic, political and strategic interests.

Although Iceland is not a member of the European Union, it maintains close ties with the bloc through the European Economic Area (EEA) and participates in the Schengen Area, giving it access to the EU's single market while remaining outside the Union's political institutions.

The renewed debate comes at a time when European security, economic resilience and regional cooperation have become increasingly prominent issues across the continent, prompting several countries to reassess their relationships with the European Union.

The outcome of the August referendum will determine whether Icelandic authorities receive a mandate to reopen accession negotiations. Any eventual membership would still require lengthy negotiations, approval by all EU member states and ratification under Icelandic constitutional procedures.

France's public support for renewed talks reflects continued interest among several European governments in keeping the EU enlargement process open for countries seeking closer political and economic integration.