EU ministers have agreed to back the arming of beleaguered Iraqi Kurd fighters by key member states, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after three hours of talks.
"We have found a common position, the sprit of which says the EU commends the fact that certain countries have responded favourably to the request made by Kurdish Iraqi forces," Steinmeier said after the meeting on Friday.
"It is not clear what equipment will be used and is necessary."
A diplomat said the agreement was "strong and sends the desired political message".
France and Britain have already moved ahead with plans to provide weapons to beleaguered Iraqi forces, but French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius pushed for the talks to mobilise an EU-wide response to the crisis in Iraq.
Defence matters are strictly the purview of member states, and the EU approval for member states to send arms to a conflict zone is rare.
But alarming images of Iraqi minorities, including Christians, under siege by jihadists have struck chords in European capitals.
Ahead of Friday's meeting, support for a strong message backing Kurdish Iraqis was growing, even from member states historically less inclined to support military adventures abroad, such as Germany.
"Europeans must not limit themselves to praising the courageous fight of the Kurdish security forces. We also need to do something first of all to meet basic needs," Steinmeier said before the meeting.
Some countries had resisted the idea of sending weapons to an unstable war zone where fighters and the weapons they carry can quickly change sides.
Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, warning that arms can "fall into the wrong hands", urged "caution" before the talks.
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