The EU Commission said on Monday it would continue discussions with Deutsche Lufthansa regarding the German airline's takeover of Austrian Airlines.

The EU statement came after a meeting between Chief Executive Wolfgang Mayrhuber and EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes.

Lufthansa is seeking EU approval of its planned purchase of AUA and is racing toward a self-imposed July 31 deadline to agree on terms.

The EU Commission said earlier the German flagship carrier had yet to provide details of new antitrust concessions to sooth EU regulatory concerns over its plan to buy AUA.

Lufthansa has taken a tough line with the Commission and the Austrian government, offering new concessions only after Austrian Airlines approved plans for a third savings programme.

Lufthansa's share price closed up 1.02 percent, largely in line with Frankfurt's blue chip index.

(Reporting by Maria Sheahan, editing by Maureen Bavdek)