French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin called again on Thursday that Turkey's European Union (EU) membership bid should be approved by national referendum in France.

"I am in favor of a process of engagement as long as the conditions are properly fulfilled so that (Turkish) membership can take place. That is why we have insisted ... that the process be clearly controlled and that the French can take the decision by referendum," Villepin said at a monthly news conference.

Turkish EU entry talks are due to kick off on Monday but member states have been unable to agree on negotiation procedures because of an insistence by Austria that Ankara also be offered something short of full membership.

Last year France changed its constitution to make any future accession to the European Union through a national referendum.

Source: Xinhua