US Secretary of State Colin Powell began talks on Thursday with his European counterparts focussing on rebuilding Iraq after the war, officials said.
Powell, in bilateral talks ahead of an extraordinary joint gathering of EU and NATO foreign ministers, also met NATO chief George Robertson.
The talks, which could also help mend shattered diplomatic fences with Europe over Iraq, were aimed at discussing reconstruction and plans for an interim authority in Iraq, Powell said.
"I want to hear ideas from them about reconstruction and contributions the EU will be able to make," he said before arriving in Brussels late Wednesday.
On Thursday morning he first met Robertson, who is hosting the talks, followed by the foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Spain and Italy.
He was also due to meet during the morning with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, whose country led European opposition to the war on Iraq.
Diplomats have warned his task will be delicate as anti-war countries focus on demands for a central role for the United Nations after the conflict.