BRUSSELS, Feb 14: European Union ministers arriving in Islamabad on Feb 19 will promise financial help and expertise to encourage closer Pakistan-India relations but also warn of serious EU concerns over recent revelations of sales of Pakistani nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

The EU delegation, including Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, his Dutch colleague Bernard Bot and European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, will urge Pakistan to put its nuclear programme under strict international safeguards, European diplomats said in Brussels.

"Our position remains that we would like everybody to put their nuclear programmes under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards," an EU diplomat told Dawn, saying this was seen as an essential and important first step which could be taken by countries without signing up for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).

The EU also believes that all nations should sign up to the IAEA's additional protocol providing for strict controls over national nuclear programmes.

EU leaders last year adopted a comprehensive plan of action for controlling the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, similar to more recent moves by US President George W. Bush to ensure tighter controls on nuclear technology.

The three-pronged EU strategy includes measures to curb proliferation, support disarmament and strengthen arms exports controls - issues that Mr Bush included in his recent speech.

"The EU will use all instruments to prevent, deter, halt and if possible eliminate WMD proliferation programmes," according to the EU document.

"It has been disturbing to hear the recent Pakistani nuclear revelations," Emma Udwin, spokeswoman for EU external relations chief Patten told Dawn. "It is in everybody's interest that there is no repeat of such activity."

"Maximising transparency is always the best way to maintain confidence," Ms Udwin added.

While voicing worries over WMD proliferation, the EU delegation is also expected to express strong support for the recent thaw in India-Pakistan relations and welcome the launch of a first round of reconciliation talks between the two countries.

The EU team will be coming to Pakistan after a visit to Afghanistan and India.

"We applaud and congratulate India and Pakistan for sitting down together and welcome the courage and leadership being shown by both sides," Ms Udwin said.

EU funds would be available for plans to set up a South Asian Free Trade Area by 2006, she added.

The delegation will also be quizzing officials in Islamabad on progress in the country's moves towards democracy ahead of planned discussions in the European Parliament on possible ratification of a new EU-Pakistan cooperation agreement.

The EU and Pakistan signed the agreement in November 2001 but the European Parliament has put ratification of the accord on hold because of human rights and democracy concerns.