France urges Iceland to open EU talks, saying it has 'nothing to lose'

France is encouraging Iceland to commence accession negotiations with the European Union, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot asserting that the country "has absolutely nothing to lose." Barrot emphasized that the upcoming referendum on August 29th concerns only the initiation of negotiation talks, not the final decision on joining the bloc.

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There is nothing to lose by opening negotiations. All are advantages, there are no disadvantages.

During an official visit to Reykjavik, Barrot met with his Icelandic counterpart, Thorgerdur Gunnarsdóttir. He presented the opening of negotiations as a purely advantageous step for Iceland. The final decision on whether to join the EU, he explained, will be made sovereignly by Icelanders after the negotiation process concludes. "There is nothing to lose by opening negotiations. All are advantages, there are no disadvantages," Barrot stated.

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The world has changed, the European Union has changed, and our relationship has changed.

Barrot noted that the circumstances surrounding EU relations have evolved significantly since Iceland's prior attempt to join in 2009, which ultimately led to a rejection in 2015. "The world has changed, the European Union has changed, and our relationship has changed," he remarked. While avoiding specific details about potential negotiation points, such as exceptions to the Common Fisheries Policy, he stressed that such discussions would only become relevant if Icelanders vote to begin negotiations with Brussels.

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Those issues will arise when the Icelandic people have decided whether or not they wish to enter into negotiation.