Spain's Gonzalez to chair EU "wise men" group

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders on Friday named former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez to head a new "reflection group" to discuss the long-term future of the 27-nation bloc.

The panel -- sometimes called the EU's group of "wise men" -- was the brainchild of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and will have a broad mandate to look at the future of the region from 2020 until 2030.

The group, which will number no more than nine people, is mandated to look at "the stability and prosperity of the Union and of the wider region," touching on the sensitive issue of EU enlargement.

Sarkozy and some other EU leaders are opposed to Turkey joining the bloc, even though it has begun accession talks.

"We cannot talk about the European project without raising the question of its territory," a French diplomat said.

The panel will also look at issues such as energy, climate change and justice matters. It is due to report its findings to EU leaders in June 2010.

"It's a very happy day for the Spanish people, for Spain, and for Europe," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told reporters.

Former Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Jorma Ollila, the chairman of mobile phone giant Nokia, were named as the two vice-chairs of the panel.

Ireland's former president of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, had been in the frame for the role of chair according to diplomats, but was not chosen.