STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Defense Minister Bjorn von Sydow of Sweden, which holds the European Union presidency, said on Thursday action was needed on reports of deaths or illnesses among peacekeeping soldiers who had served in the Balkans.

``It is important that we act,´´ von Sydow said in a statement.

The so-called ``Balkan syndrome´´ has come under the spotlight over the past few days following reports that six Italian soldiers who served in the former Yugoslavia developed leukemia and died after exposure to the ammunition.

``I welcome a discussion about the Belgian proposal to set up a medical working group within the EU, von Sydow said, adding the proposal would be discussed at a January 9 meeting of the interim Political and Security Committee.

Sweden's ambassador to NATO had been instructed to consult with the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance, he said. Sweden, which holds the EU presidency in the first half of 2001, is not a member of NATO.

``The Swedish presidency will be in close contact with the (European Union) Commission regarding future developments of this issue,´´ von Sydow said.

Romano Prodi, president of the Commission which is the EU's executive arm, said on Thursday he wanted light to be shed on claims linking depleted uranium from spent NATO ammunition to deaths and illnesses of NATO soldiers who had been stationed in the Balkans. Prodi said ammunition with depleted uranium should not be used if there was even the slightest risk for soldiers or civilians.

Italian Defense Minister Sergio Mattarella said on Wednesday NATO had told Rome only last month that depleted uranium had been used in Serbia in 1999 and in Bosnia in the mid-1990s.

Italy asked NATO on Wednesday to investigate the growing concerns over the use of depleted uranium. Similar requests have also been made by Portugal and Belgium, which have also reported deaths among soldiers who served in the Balkans. Five soldiers have died in Belgium and one in Portugal.