Former Spanish PM Gonzalez named head of panel to debate EU's future course

European Union leaders named former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez to head a French-inspired panel to debate the future direction of the bloc, officials said Friday.

Former Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Jorma Ollila, former chairman of the Finnish cell phone giant Nokia, were chosen as vice presidents of the group, which is to discuss "key issues and developments which the union is likely to face" in the years 2020-2030, according to an EU statement released at the end of Friday's summit.

The panel would not, however, be dealing with issues of enlargement, as demanded by French President Nicolas Sarkozy _ a setback for the French.

Nevertheless, Sarkozy welcomed the decision to launch the panel. He said its task was to find a "new vision" for an ever more closely integrated European Union. But Sarkozy's description was disputed by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who said the group would focus on technical issues, particularly the economy, environment and security.

The panel received only lukewarm support from other leaders, and its proposed mandate has been curtailed with the crucial issue of Europe's borders _ the key to admitting Turkey, Balkan nations, Ukraine and other eastern countries _ now off-limits.

"EU enlargement, institutional reforms and financial issues are not within this group's mandate," said Czech European Affairs Minister Alexandr Vondra.

Last month, the European Commission, the EU executive, said Turkey must improve minority rights and enhance freedom of expression, religion and press in line with other crucial reforms to keep its EU bid on track.

Finland's Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said the launch of the panel will have no bearing on Turkey's efforts to join the union, as France had originally hoped. He and several other leaders said the panel was a serious issue for only one country _ France.

"Why another reflection group? We've only just come out of a period of reflection," said Graham Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, referring to the one-year period when the EU was reshaping its failed draft constitution into a new treaty signed on Thursday.

The panel will consist of up to nine members. The three leaders are to present a full list by autumn 2008, Vondra said.

The group will deal with such issues as global security, migration, competitiveness, energy and climate protection, and the fight against international crime and terrorism.