EU foreign ministers will discuss possible troop contributions to a UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon at an emergency meeting on Friday.
Italy had asked the Finnish government, which holds the EU presidency, to arrange the meeting to discuss Europe's role in the UN mission.
Italy has offered to lead the 15,000-strong international force and has so far made the biggest commitment of up to 3,000 troops for the expanded UNIFIL force.
Earlier, the Italian Prime Minister said the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, would respond by the weekend to Italy's offer to lead the international peacekeeping force.
France had been expected to assume the leadership but it offered just 200 troops in the absence of a clearly defined mandate.
Turkey and Spain are also hesitant about supplying troops until the mandate is clarified.
Israel has said it would be happy if Italy led the force in Lebanon.
European Union member states will meet tomorrow to discuss concerns about clear rules of engagement for the force.
Meanwhile, it is reported that Israeli soldiers have shot two Hezbollah militants and injured another.
Israel says the soldiers were approached by a group of armed men in what it describes as a 'threatening manner' near the Lebanese village of Shama.
It is thought four Israeli soldiers were wounded in the incident.
