French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is expected to arrive in Iceland today. During his visit, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir.

While not listed on the official agenda, Iceland’s potential membership in the European Union could well be discussed. France supported Iceland’s application to join the EU in 2010, but with significant conditions. It stressed that Iceland should receive no special privileges because of its membership in the European Economic Area (EEA) and emphasized that the country would have to adopt the EU acquis in a number of areas, particularly fisheries. France also insisted that transition periods and special arrangements should be kept to an absolute minimum, with no expectation of permanent exemptions for Iceland.

Later this evening, Foreign Minister Barrot will host a reception at the Prime Minister’s Residence on Tjarnargata.