European Union foreign ministers are gathered in Brussels ahead of a meeting where heads of state and government are expected to endorse new security initiatives and hold talks on the new EU treaty.
An EU statement says the ministers are to discuss the Middle East peace process, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and prospects for boosting political dialogue between the union and Israel.
They also are expected to discuss international security issues.
Before the summit on Thursday and Friday, EU foreign ministers are also holding talks on the eventual accession of Macedonia into the union and discussing the situation in the Western Balkans and Pakistan.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
