BRUSSELS (EJP)---The European Union condemned Israel's intention to go ahead with building in east Jerusalem, saying it represents a “roadblock” to international peace efforts.

"The European Union has condemned all the settlement activities," Spanish Foreign Miguel Angel Moratinos, said in the framework of a monthly meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels. 

Spain currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. "We ask for a total freeze of settlement activity. We will pursue this policy."

The EU is "very disappointed by the position of the Israeli government, I think I can say very clearly that Jerusalem is not Tel Aviv," said Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.  

Asselborn's comment was in reference to a declaration made by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.

"Our policy on Jerusalem is the same policy followed by all Israeli governments for the 42 years, and it has not changed," Netanyahu said at the weekly cabinet meeting.

"As far as we are concerned, building in Jerusalem is the same as building in Tel Aviv."

"The Netanyahu announcement is completely, utterly unacceptable," Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the EU message to Israel was clear.

"The settlements are illegal as well as being a roadblock on the road to security and justice for Palestinians and Israelis which will come through a two-state solution," he told journalists.

Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, who is in Brussels, held Monday several bilateral meetings with his EU counterparts from Malta, Lithuania, Finland, Germany and Holland.

Benjamin Netanyahu, who was also due in Brussels later this week for talks with EU leaders, has postponed his trip because his current visit in the United States – where he is due to meet President Barack Obama at the White House- was extended.

Netanyahu had been scheduled to meet EU president Herman Van Rompuy and the Prime Ministers of Belgium, Italy and Holland on his return from his US visit.