European Union foreign ministers on Monday called on Egypt to embark on an "orderly transition" leading the way to "free and fair elections."
A declaration adopted by the EU's 27 ministers urged Cairo to adopt a step-by-step approach, starting with a broad-based interim government and culminating with a democratic vote.
"The council urges Egyptian authorities to embark on an orderly transition through a broad-based government leading to a genuine process of substantial democratic reforms, with full respect of rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms paving the way for fair and free elections."
The bloc's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, called on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to immediately hold talks with the opposition and respond to the demands of anti-government protesters.
"The legitimate grievances of the Egyptian people should be responded to. Their aspirations for a just, better future should be met with urgent, concrete and decisive answers, and with real steps," Ashton told reporters.
"There needs to be a peaceful way forward based on an open and serious dialogue with the opposition parties and all parts of civil society, and we believe it needs to happen now," she said.
Ashton said the 27-nation bloc stands ready to assist Egypt every step of the way, but like Cairo's powerful ally, the United States, took a cautious line and stopped well short of calling for Mubarak to step aside.
"We will be there for the short, medium and long term to help build and support democracy, the rule of law, human rights, all of those values coming into action," she said.
Deploring the violence that has left at least 125 people dead, Ashton urged "everyone and especially the police forces" to show restraint to prevent further violence.
he English baroness repeated her call for Egyptian authorities to free all "peaceful demonstrators" who were detained during anti-government protests since last week.
The upheaval in Egypt shot up the agenda of a regular meeting of foreign ministers that was already set to be marked by sanctions against the former dictator of Tunisia, who was ousted in a popular revolt earlier this month.
Back in Cairo, protesters flooded the Egyptian capital for a seventh day against the government, brushing aside limited concessions by Mubarak and vowing to bring down his regime with strikes and million-strong marches.