BRUSLS, January 10 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission said Monday that the possible visit of the Libyan President, Moammar Gadhafi, to Brussels still needs to be approved by all members of the 15-nation European Union (EU).

The EU executive's spokesman, Gunnar Wiegande, said any such visit has to be approved by the EU member states. He said EU foreign ministers will meet on this topic in Brussels next Tuesday as part of the Euro-Mediterranean Barcelona process.

Wiegande also said that EU foreign relation commissioner Chris Patten has consulted this matter with European Commission President Romano Prodi and he expressed his political desire to make contacts with the Libyan leader.

A spokesman for the Libyan leader said last Thursday that the idea of a visit to Brussels was mentioned in a telephone conversation between Prodi and Gadhafi. The call was made by the Libyan leader to coincide with the Christmas festivities.

However, the European Commission is not yet prepared to admit sending an official invitation to the Libyan leader. But it sent at elegram last Thursday to current EU presidency Portugal and the other 14 EU member states urging them to contemplate an official invitation through the normal diplomatic channels.

According to the EU executive branch, the EU's approval cannot yet be taken as ready as the resumption of diplomatic contacts with Libya. It is conditional on Gadhafi's acceptance in writing of the criteria and legislative achievements of the Barcelona process.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama said last week that the initiative of Gadhafi's visit may be attributed to "the special relationship between Libya and Italy." "The Italians are the main ones sensitive to this issue," the minister added.

Libya is Italy's biggest oil supplier and Italy accounts for the bulk of exports to its former colony.

EU-Libya relations have improved significantly since Tripoli's acceptance last year of the call to extradite for trial in the Netherlands two Libyans suspected of involvement in the Lockerbie air disaster over Scotland in December 1988. (Xinhua)