EU foreign ministers failed to agree on a common position over Kosovo's looming declaration of independence and the EU's subsequent mission at a meeting on Monday. The issue will be back on the table when EU leaders meet for a summit on 14 December, said Manuel Lobo Antunes, Portugal's Secretary of State for European Affairs.

"We are hopeful that the European Council will outline the way of maintaining stability and security in the region," he said in Strassbourg.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amada, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said: "The EU partners do not have a common position on Kosovo's status. We should be patient in this delicate process. We are moving towards a common position...Today we came another step forward."

For his part, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told reporters that there is only "one country who cannot accept" a solution for Kosovar independence without a UN resolution; other foreign ministers identified that country as Cyprus.

Spanish Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said that "a unilateral proclamation of independence is not positive for Spain, but it will wait to see what happens." Madrid fears that the Kosovo precedent will encourage separatist spirit.

Observers remind that Russia's veto will block any resolution on Kosovar independence.

Nevertheless, December 10, the EU Foreign Ministers agreed to send a mission which would replace NATO forces in the province, RIA Novosti reports.