Brussels, 15/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU and NATO are stepping up their coordination ahead of a humanitarian mission in Libya (EUFOR Libya), with possible military support from the EU in the near future to help the population of the town of Misrata which has been targeted for several months now by Gaddafi's armed forces. On the fringes of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin (attended by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton), diplomatic sources explained on Friday 15 April that the EU and NATO ambassadors had decided to meet informally to discuss Libya to avoid any duplication of activity. The meeting will take place in the next few weeks, but the date has not yet been set. On Thursday evening, 14 April, EU member states finally agreed on an “operations concept” (CONOPS) for the future humanitarian mission that might go ahead if endorsed by the United Nations. In Berlin on Friday, Ashton said the EU was prepared to send a humanitarian mission to Libya “if requested by the UN”, adding that “pending the request, the planning is at an advanced stage. And in this context we are coordinating with others, including NATO. ... The international community as a whole is working together to end the crisis in Libya. The EU is making a crucial contribution to those efforts and wants to see a rapid political transition.” (H.B./transl.fl)