Immigrants must respect European values - EU head

BRUSSELS, June 16 (Reuters) Immigrants must adhere to European values if they want to settle in Europe, EU president Austria said on Thursday, stepping with strong language into a sensitive debate on how to treat the bloc's Muslim population.

''There are certain things that lie at the heart of Europe and if people want to be part of Europe they should sign up to these things. We all agreed on this,'' Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said after EU leaders discussed migration.

''It is very important for somebody who is coming to our countries to learn the language and sign up to the values, the human rights, the position of women, the rule of law. There is no compromise on this,'' Schuessel told a news conference.

''Integration is necessary but nobody is asking you to give up your religion or your identity,'' he said.

Some European Union countries have introduced so-called integration tests, or are considering doing so.

The Netherlands, which has shed traditional tolerance to pass some of Europe's toughest migration laws, began in March making would-be immigrants study the Dutch language and culture for up to 375 hours in preparation for a 400 dollar exam.

French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy drafted a new immigration law which would force newcomers to take French and civic lessons.

REUTERS DH RAI0648