Brussels - Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to meet top European Union officials next week during her first visit to Europe as US Secretary of State, diplomatic sources in Brussels said Thursday.

Officials said Clinton was expected to hold talks on March 6 with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the bloc's rotating presidency.

An advance team of US officials was Thursday spotted carrying out inspections in the EU's council building in preparation for the meeting.

One possible topic up for discussion is a US request for Europe to host some of the inmates due to be released from the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba.

Clinton will be in Brussels to attend her first meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Wednesday.

The new secretary of state chose Asia for her first official trip abroad. (dpa)