Spain's foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos says the European Union supports US efforts to start talks between Israel and Palestinians again after a 15-month freeze.

"You know it takes two to tango, we can only mediate in between. The Americans can only mediate in between. If there is no willingness for peace or a settlement on the Israeli side or on the Palestinian side we might as well be here in 10 years and talking about the same stuff," Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb told reporters.

EU foreign ministers met Friday in Cordoba, southern Spain, for two days of informal talks on international issues.

The discussions were also expected to cover the EU's relations with China, India and Brazil - developing countries whose diplomatic influence is growing.

Diplomats say the EU wants to talk to those countries about such issues as nuclear proliferation and climate change.

AP