BERLIN (AP) — Germany's foreign minister has suggested that the European Union could send a civilian mission to West Africa to help combat the Ebola outbreak.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier said at a gathering of health experts in Berlin Sunday that the 28-nation EU needs to become faster and more effective, and should do a better job of sharing its capabilities in the fight against the virus.

Steinmeier said that the bloc should "at least consider sending its own civilian EU mission" to help. He didn't detail what that would involve, but said it would offer EU member countries that aren't represented in the region "a platform to send medical personnel."

He added that the EU should consider setting up a pool of medical and logistical experts to help in future crises worldwide.