Brussels, 05/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - In future, the European Union must integrate Turkey and the Western Balkans if it wants to pacify the European continent in a lasting manner and contribute to preventing a confrontation between Islam and the West, said Olli Rehn, Enlargement Commissioner, speaking in Paris on 4 October. “It is in our own interests to maintain and encourage the states of South-Eastern Europe along the road to peaceful reform”, he stressed. On the subject of Turkey, a candidate country that French President Nicolas Sarkozy does not wish to see become a member of the Union, Rehn recalled the political commitment taken by the European Council in favour of the country's future accession, subject to fulfilment of certain criteria. The commissioner felt that “keeping to one's word is an essential condition for the credibility of our command over democratic and economic transformation”. France continues to warn against unlimited EU enlargement. Speaking before a gathering of French students, Olli Rehn sought to be reassuring. “Our agenda for future enlargements is not without limits (…). It covers South-East Europe, namely the Western Balkans and Turkey. On the other hand, we are not able to make any new commitments at this stage”. The commissioner also said that the candidate countries should strictly meet accession criteria, failing which they will not be able to join. “It is not the speed but the quality (of negotiations) that counts. Unlike certain opinions expressed, there is nothing automatic about membership talks”, he concluded. (hb)