BRUSSELS, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Thursday voiced a cautious welcome to U.S. President George W. Bush's new Iraq strategy, saying the bloc is glad that he had taken a " more comprehensive approach" on Iraq.

    "The commission president (Jose Manuel Barroso) welcomed the comprehensive approach taken in the international context for Iraq, which was also endorsed by President Bush," European Commission spokesman Johannes Laitenberger told a press briefing in Brussels.

    "Stability in Iraq would require action not only in the security domain but also the political and economic areas, if national reconciliation is to be pursued," he said.

    The security of Iraq is a fundamental concern to all in the international community, and Barroso discussed this with Bush when he visited the White House on Monday, the spokesman said.

    The commission's foreign relations spokeswoman Emma Udwin said the EU executive "welcomed the fact that Bush had taken a more comprehensive approach and alluded to the importance of other activities in Iraq, not purely the security matters."

    The spokeswoman refused to be drawn on whether the commission supports the specific measures laid out by Bush, including his plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq.

    She said the situation in Iraq is "extremely worrying" and answers are to be found not only in security matters, but in a range of issues, including the political and national reconciliation process.

    Bush on Wednesday outlined a wide-ranging strategy on Iraq. He proposed sending 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq, which he said would "help the Iraqis break the current cycle of violence" and hasten the day U.S. troops come home.