Brussels, Belgium - European Union officials want to start a debate with media bosses about the outrage sparked by the newspaper cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed as Europeans struggle to balance their cherished rights to freedom of speech with the need to calm rising Islamic fury.
The issue is due to be discussed at a round-table meeting in the coming mouths as part of a wider EU drive to prevent the radicalisation of Muslim opinion.
Officials stress that the talks have been planned since September, well before the furore over the cartoons became a factor in the debate on press coverage of racism, xenophobia and terrorism.
The idea for the conference dates back to September, when the EU published an anti-terrorism paper, which recommended an examination of the media's role.
The next week, the Jyllands-Posten daily, one of Denmark's largest newspapers, first published the caricatures.
No date has been set for the meeting with EU policy makers, journalists and broadcasters.
EU spokesperson Friso Roscam Abbing said the meeting would cover "very difficult and complex issues ... freedom of expression and ... respect for religion".