The enlargement of the EU could continue, even if member states failed in approving the common European Constitution, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said.

After discussion with representatives of the new Finnish presidency Barroso said that it was wrong to consider a new enlargement wave after the accession of Bulgaria and Romania impossible.

There were no legal hindrances to the acceptance of new members after the EU expanded to 27 member countries, Barroso said.

Last year the common European Constitution was rejected in France and the Netherlands, Bulgarian National Radio reported. There was no scenario how to proceed with the acceptance of new members after this development, Barroso said.

His words contradict statement of enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn and the resolution of the European Parliament, which said that to accept new members, the EU needed to undergo institutional reforms.