BERLIN, March 30 (Xinhua) -- European Union foreign ministers will jointly urge Iran on Friday to immediately release the 15 British sailors captured last week.

    At a two-day informal meeting in Bremen, Germany, the ministers from the 27 EU member states are to warn Iran to end its standoff with Britain over the sailors as soon as it can, German news agency DPA reported, citing the diplomats.

    It was not clear if the EU ministers would agree to follow Britain's call to freeze official bilateral business with Iran, the diplomats said.

    A week ago Iran seized the navy personnel, saying they had violated Iranian territory, but Britain has insisted that the two British patrol vessels were in Iraqi waters.

    On the first day of the informal meeting, the ministers will discuss the situation in the Western Balkans, especially in Kosovo, and future relations with Belarus within the framework of the development of the European Neighborhood Policy.

    On the agenda Saturday, discussions will focus on recent developments in the Middle East peace process and Iran's nuclear program.