Although US and European Union diplomats conceded the main difference in their approach was on the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the progress of reforms in the Arab world, they have agreed on basic principles.

Marc Grossman, US under-secretary of state, spelt out a three-pronged strategy, backing away from imposing reforms, mooted earlier this year.

He was in Brussels to brief Nato ambassadors, Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy chief, and the EU's special ambassadors responsible for security issues after his visit to several Middle Eastern countries.

"This is not about imposing reforms," said Mr Grossman, insisting the "best reforms would come from the people".

He also stressed the big differences among the countries, dispelling earlier views that Washington sometimes viewed the Middle East as monolithic.

Countries should introduce and choose what reforms to implement at their own pace, he added.

The EU, which has been engaged in the region since 1995 when it launched the Barcelona process - the only multinational forum that brings together most of the North African and Middle Eastern countries including Israel - said on Friday that the US and European proposals complemented each other.

Mr Solana said the EU's approach was based on "a long-term sustained commitment in which local ownership was paramount".

The impulse for reforms, he added, had to come from within the region, even if it can and should be supported from outside.

More crucially, Mr Solana has made the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a strategic priority for Europe.

"Without this there will be little chance of dealing with other problems in the Middle East," he said.

Mr Grossman was careful to insist that "ideas about reform are not a substitute for the Middle East process". But, he added, "you cannot wait until there's a complete peace. Its not an excuse for doing nothing."

Indeed, some European diplomats said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is too often used in the region as an alibi for postponing reforms.