The incoming European Union enlargement chief will leave office happy in 2009 if Romania and Bulgaria are members, Turkey is on the way to join and the Western Balkans are in line for entry talks, he said on Monday. But the European Enlargement Commissioner-designate Olli Rehn cautioned that all these countries had much yet to do, and poured cold water on the idea of former Soviet states like Ukraine or Belarus joining any time soon. "I would be very proud if we as a Union could bring the enlargement to incorporate Romania and Bulgaria to a successful conclusion," he told a parliamentary confirmation hearing. "Secondly, if we could reinforce Turkey's options for membership to promote the process of political and economic reform in Turkey; and thirdly, if we could open up for the Western Balkan countries the possibility of joining the European Union in future," he added. Romania and Bulgaria are scheduled to join the EU in 2007 but the EU's executive Commission still has serious concerns over Bucharest's readiness. The Commission will make a recommendation on Wednesday on whether Ankara has met the political and economic conditions to start accession talks, and EU leaders must then decide in December on whether to set a date for the talks. --MORE 2337 Local Time 2037 GMT
