EU Leaders End Meeting

"We have the ambition of bringing the EU a step forward," she said Friday after the meeting. "I have received several encouraging signals."

In addition to lending Merkel their support on Friday, the European Union leaders warned Iran and Syria against meddling in the affairs of their neighbors and demanded they adopt more "responsible" stances if they hope to improve ties with the bloc.

"The European Council expresses its concern about the negative impact of Iranian policies on stability and security in the Middle East," EU heads of state and government said in conclusions from their Brussels summit. "The European Council underlines that Iran needs to play a responsible role in the region."

They expressed regret that, in the dispute over its nuclear program, Iran had rejected a package of incentives in exchange for stopping its enrichment of uranium, and encouraged the United Nations Security Council to take action.

EU to Syria: Don't interfere in Lebanon

On the latest political crisis in Lebanon sparked by anti-government protests organized by the Iranian and Syrian-backed militia Hezbollah, the EU pressed the country's neighbors not to meddle in Lebanese affairs.

"The European Council calls upon all Lebanese and regional actors to show responsible leadership and full respect for Lebanese democratic institutions," they wrote.

"Syria must end all interference in Lebanese internal affairs and actively engage in the stabilization of Lebanon and the region," the European Council's statement continued. "Syria needs to do so to be in a position to develop normal relations with the international community, including with the EU."

Leaders split on talks with Syria

The bloc is divided over how to contend with Syria, recognizing it is key to resolving the crises in Lebanon, Iraq and between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier traveled to Damascus this week for talks with President Bashar al-Assad and held out the prospect of economic incentives if Syria became a "constructive" partner in the region.

But other EU heavyweights, including France, have ruled out negotiations until Syria demonstrates a significant turnabout in policy.

Revitalizing the Middle East Quartet

Germany will assume the rotating presidency of the bloc on Jan. 1 and has pledged to revive the Middle East Quartet grouping the EU, the UN, the United States and Russia.

The leaders encouraged the Quartet to "stand ready to lead an effort by the international community to build on the outcome of successful negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians."

They said this should entail a "comprehensive settlement" of the Israeli-Arab conflict, including peace agreements with Syria and Lebanon and full normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries.

Council agrees to partial freeze of Turkey talks

The heads of state and government also rubber-stamped a decision made by foreign ministers Monday to freeze Turkey's membership negotiations in eight of the 35 policy areas candidates must complete.

The sanctions come as a blow to Turkey's bid a little more than a year after accession talks got off to a turbulent start in October 2005 amid widespread public opposition in Europe to the country's membership.

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomijioja of Finland, which holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of December, said that starting negotiations on the chapters that were not put on ice "would actually be in the spirit of the decision we have taken."

German Foreign Minster Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he was pleased the leaders were able to come to an agreement concerning Turkey, adding that he would go into the German EU presidency with "a bit more confidence than a few weeks ago."

Debate continues to surround constitution

The bloc's leaders discussed the fate of the European Constitution, which was rejected by French and Dutch referendums last year, but were unable to reach an agreement on how to proceed.

"Silent reflection to more active thinking" on the constitution, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said, referring to a plan by Spain and Luxembourg to try and get the treaty back on track.

Germany had previously announced it would attempt to setup a blueprint on possible ways the charter could be revised and implemented during its six months at the EU's helm.