European Union (EU) foreign ministers failed to reach agreement on Monday to send troops to the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) before UN reinforcements arrive.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon requested the EU to provide a "bridging force" as the UN prepares for the deployment of 3,000 additional peacekeepers.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was frustrated at the lack of consensus among EU member states.
"If Europe, the 500 million inhabitants, who are the richest people in the world ... can't find a response to a situation, which is so cruel for all Congolese and for people who see the situation on TV, what will Europe be?" Kouchner asked at a press conference.
No EU country is willing to lead such a mission while Germany and Britain have reportedly opposed EU military intervention.
"For humanitarian reasons, not because I think that (military) intervention can solve the political problem -- I don't think it could -- but I still feel it is important to move," said Kouchner, adding that not all EU countries shared his concerns.
The foreign ministers have ordered EU foreign policy and security chief Javier Solana and the European Commission to come up with a response to Ban's request in "political and technical terms," said Koucher.
Solana told reporters that the initial response will be available by the end of the week. He said Ban's letter did not mention any precise demands and that he has to analyze the letter. But Kouchner said Ban is asking for 3,000 troops to hold the ground temporarily until the UN peacekeepers arrive.
The United Nations has 17,000 peacekeepers in the DRC. It plans to send 3,000 extra troops in the east of the country where rebel forces are fighting government troops. The UN needs four months to deploy the extra force.