Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi (L) talks to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels, Dec. 14, 2007. Heads of state and government from European Union (EU) nations gathered here on Dec. 14 to discuss issues of Kosovo, Iran and enlargement of the bloc, among other things. (Xinhua Photo)
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    BRUSSELS, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The year-end European Union (EU) summit concluded here Friday after the leaders agreed on the principle of sending a civilian mission to Kosovo and the declaration on globalization.

    "We took a political decision to send an ESDP (European Security and Defense Policy) mission to Kosovo. This is the clearest signal the EU could possibly give that Europe intends to lead on Kosovo and the future of the region," Jose Socrates, prime minister of Portugal whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, told reporters after the one-day summit.

Portugal's Prime Minister Jose Socrates (L) and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso give a news conference after a European Union Heads of State and Government summit in Brussels Dec. 14, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    The mission will include 1,800 police, prosecutors and civil administrators.

    The EU will also be ready to assist economic and political development through a clear European perspective, in line with the European perspective of the region, according to conclusions reached at the summit.

    The EU leaders "did not discuss" Kosovo independence, and the issue of Kosovo's future status would be discussed at the U.N. Security Council at the present, said Socrates.

    Kosovo has vowed to declare independence before next May after negotiations with Serbia failed to break the impasse over the status of the province by Dec. 10.

    The EU is still divided over whether to recognize the independence of Kosovo. Cyprus, notably, is firmly opposed to Kosovo independence.

    Greece, Slovakia, Spain and Romania have all expressed concern about the possible repercussions for separatist movements elsewhere in Europe.

EU Ministers and delegates attend the EU Treaty of Lisbon signing ceremony in the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon Dec. 13, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)