The European Union (EU) sticks to its one-China policy and the EU member states will not support Taiwan's attempts to join the United Nations, an EU spokeswoman said on Thursday.

"The EU strongly supports stability across the Taiwan Straits. It believes that such stability is essential not just to peace and prosperity in East Asia but also to the wider international community," Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, told Xinhua.

Commenting on the latest move by the Taiwan authorities to apply for UN membership, Gallach said: "Holding a referendum on application for UN membership under the name 'Taiwan' is an unhelpful initiative since it may be perceived as an attempt to change the status quo and undermine stability."

"The EU has therefore urged the Taiwanese authorities not to support this referendum," the spokeswoman said.

"The way forward on successfully addressing cross-straits relations remains through dialogue, practical cooperation and confidence-building measures," she said.

The spokeswoman noted that progress has already been made on direct cross-straits flights, reductions in barriers to trade, increased investment and people to people contact.

"This progress should not be jeopardized," Gallach said.