Berlin - The UN Security Council is close to passing a new resolution that authorizes a European Union fleet to fight piracy, according to German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday.

The EU operation, using seven warships that mostly already patrol near the Gulf of Aden, is scheduled to form up on December 8 to protect merchant ships from pirates on the Somali coast.

Answering questions from Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Steinmeier said he welcomed the progress in Security Council consultations on a new resolution. Last week the United States demanded changes.

Content-wise, the latest draft was largely the same as the previous draft, Steinmeier said, ensuring the EU mission, codenamed Operation Atalanta, had a basis in international law.

He called for the resolution to be passed soon so that the EU and Berlin can authorize the mission. Germany has said it will contribute one warship.

An existing UN resolution against piracy was set to expire Tuesday and there have been fears a dispute at the Security Council could hold up renewed efforts to stop the Somali pirates.

The German government, which has been deeply divided about the legality of catching and punishing pirates, is expected to officially propose on December 10 to send a warship. (dpa)