A group of senior European Union officials will visit Monday an inter-Korean industrial complex in North Korea's border city of Gaesong.

The Unification Ministry in Seoul said Sunday that the group consists of European Parliament Vice President Gerard Onesta and seven other senior members.

The visit to the complex is the first by EU parliamentary officials, and could boost Seoul's bid to continue cross-border projects despite the North's nuclear test.

Observers say that in the upcoming free trade negotiations between South Korea and the EU, the EU delegation could voice its opinions on granting special tariff preferences to products manufactured at the complex.

South Korea and the EU have held two preliminary discussions since May, when they agreed to seek a bilateral free trade agreement.

The United States wants South Korea to stop the complex project, but European countries are said to be positive over the complex.