The new US administration should make the Middle East peace process a priority and build upon progress made so far, European Union External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said Friday.

Ferrero-Waldner said the EU would like US President-elect Barack Obama's government to take up the Middle East as a "very first point" upon taking office in January. She is also urging it not to "start from scratch."

There has been speculation that Obama's team, which includes members of the Clinton administration who worked on Middle East issues, may want to adopt a new strategy in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.

Ferrero-Waldner commented in Vienna after attending a conference on promoting dialogue between Europe and the Arab World.