France, Britain and Germany called for the world to deliver aid to cyclone victims in Myanmar if necessary without the military junta's agreement, France's junior minister for human rights said.
"We have called for the 'responsibility to protect' to be applied in the case of Burma," Rama Yade told reporters as EU development ministers' met to discuss emergency aid for Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.
The little-used UN principle could allow the delivery of aid without the accord of the government if Myanmar's military rulers continue to bar foreign aid teams from entering the country.
Yade said the three major EU powers would make the proposal to the United Nations Security Council, but acknowledged that they did not have unanimous support in the 27-nation EU.