Brussels, 25/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said on Wednesday he was against the wearing of the full veil, such as the burqa. “The full veil runs contrary to the achievements of European civilisation,” he said, adding, “You cannot communicate with the person wearing it”. Mr Schäuble was speaking at a hearing of the European Parliament civil liberties committee (LIBE) in Brussels. He said, however, that he was against a European law being adopted on this matter, for which there was no legal basis anyway. He also made it clear he was speaking in a personally capacity and not on behalf of the presidency. “Such clothing will not make the integration process for Muslims easier,” said Friso Roscam-Abbing, the spokesman for the immigration commissioner on Thursday, pointing out that integration issues fell exclusively within the competence of member states. On Wednesday, Mr Schäuble also repeated his call on the need for European countries to train their imams in order to integrate the Muslim populations, ease tensions and combat the rise in “home grown terrorism” (see EUROPE 9343). A conference for ministers responsible for integration will take place in Potsdam on 10-11 May. (bc)