Iraq's failure to allow arms in to the country inspections should be resolved by the United Nations, EU foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana said.
"Our position is that we should stay within the UN framework to the end," Mr Solana said, adding there was still "room for politics, room for the UN" in the quest for an end to the crisis.
Speaking after a meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Ms Ana Palacio, Mr Solana said: "Building a consensus, using negotiating mechanisms and consultation in the UN framework and bilateral channels, seems to us the best and most useful path to follow".
Mr Solana told Germany's daily Berliner Zeitungthe EU remained opposed to any unilateral military action to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
"It might be necessary to threaten Iraq with military means. But that decision can only be taken by the United Nations," he said.
In a thinly veiled attack on the US posturing over the issue, Mr Solana added: "We're opposed to a preventative war against Iraq. That kind of action would be against international law. All necessary steps against Iraq should be decided within the framework of the UN".
AFP