Brussels, 04/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - With a view to the visit to Brussels by the president of the African Union (AU) Commission, Alpha Oumar Konaré, on 17 May, the European Union is looking at the various options for strengthening its support for the AU to help bring the violence in Darfur to an end. The ambassadors of the EU Member States, who met on Tuesday within the EU's Political and Security Committee (COPS), examined a text from the Council's secretariat general and a Franco-German working document on ways to provide additional logistical support to the AU mission in Darfur, “AMIS II”, which is composed of civilian and military observers as well as protection forces. Discussions within COPS have shown that Member States have the political will to step up the EU's logistical support in the region but that more reflection is needed to define the terms and arrangements for support. France and Germany are clearly in favour of strengthening the EU's role in the region. In a non-official working document (a “non paper”), the Franco-German pair suggest helping AMIS' expansion by increasing bilateral aid (the EU's Military Staff, the EMUE, could play the role of coordinator in this area) and strengthening the AU's observation capabilities by -conducting an ESDP air reconnaissance operation.