Brussels, Aug 13 (DPA) There is currently no need to close or delay the opening of Europe's schools because of swine flu, health officials of the European Union (EU) agreed Thursday. Earlier they discussed common action against the virus that has infected more than 35,000 people across the continent.

However, national authorities should 'locally close schools reactively upon infection being found among students' so as to delay the spread of the virus, the EU Health Security Committee said in a statement.

France is among the member states to have unveiled plans to close all schools and opt for long-distance learning in the event of a widespread swine-flu crisis in the country.

The country's education minister told Le Figaro Wednesday that if this were to happen, lessons would be given via the internet and public broadcasting channels.

The meeting in Brussels, which was chaired by the European Commission and included officials from the bloc's 27 members states, noted that in the event of schools being shut, officials should also prevent alternative gatherings of children.