Brussels  - The European Union is "seriously concerned" by the rising tensions between Russia and Georgia and urges all sides to return to dialogue, the bloc said in a statement Monday.

"The EU remains seriously concerned by the recent series of events that have raised tensions between Georgia and the Russian Federation ... The EU calls on all sides to refrain from any steps that could increase tensions and urges the sides to take action to rebuild confidence," the statement said.

In the statement, made on behalf of the 27-member bloc by the Slovenian government, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, the European grouping repeated its commitment to Georgia's existing internationally-recognized borders.

"The EU reiterates its firm commitment to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Georgia," it said.

And it also repeated its support for efforts to find a peaceful solution to the problems of the region.

Georgia became an independent state in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, but two of its provinces, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, then tried to break away from Tbilisi's rule.

The two provinces have exercised de facto independence since international mediators brokered a ceasefire in the mid-1990s, but have not been internationally recognized.

However, the two provinces now say that Kosovo's move for independence sets a legal precedent for them to break away. Russia, which is alarmed by Georgia's current pro-Western stance, backs the two provinces in their dispute with Tbilisi.

On April 20 a Georgian unmanned spy aircraft was shot down near Abkhazia in a move which Georgia blamed on Russia. Russia responded by sending more soldiers as peacekeepers into Abkhazia.

Last week the EU's top foreign-policy leaders met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for regular talks. The EU leaders urged both sides not to take measures that would escalate the tensions.

However, Lavrov said that the evidence indicated that Georgia was planning to launch a war in Abkhazia, and that if it did, Russia would retaliate. (dpa)