Sarkozy call for EU wise men meets opposition

LISBON (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy's call for the European Union to appoint a group of wise persons to study Europe's long-term future and borders ran into some opposition at a summit of the bloc on Thursday.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said he did not want a panel of has-beens suggesting ways to renege on EU enlargement promises or close Europe to foreign trade and investment.

Sarkozy said in August he was prepared to allow the EU to continue accession negotiations on most policy areas with Turkey, whose membership of the bloc he opposes, provided a group of wise people was named to recommend the way forward.

"(I) want to avoid people of the past discussing the future of Europe," Reinfeldt said in a statement.

"It is imperative that the group cannot serve as a pretext for blocking parts of previously agreed commitments on enlargement," he said.

"We have an obligation to Turkey as well as to the countries of the Western Balkans to continue the full accession process," Reinfeldt said.

France has blocked discussion of five of the 35 "chapters" or policy areas in the negotiations, arguing that they presuppose the eventual outcome is membership.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also called into question the usefulness of a panel of wise people.

"I am not sure if I am convinced of its added value," he said in a speech in Berlin.

"On the other hand ... if it is really composed of wise men -- and women, as it must -- I am sure they will see that enlargement is not the problem but rather a vital part of the solution to many problems that the EU will face in the coming decades."

However, European Commission officials say the EU executive has already accepted the principle of a commission of wise people and is working to ensure its mandate is tilted towards embracing globalization and keep Europe open to newcomers.