A former US ambassador to Egypt is in Cairo and "has the ability" to talk to Egyptian leaders, PJ Crowley, the US state department spokesman, said on Monday.
US state departemnt has given no details of who Frank G Wisner would meet but said he would have the opportunity to reinforce the US message to Egypt.
He also said the Washington believed Egypt should revoke emergency law brought in following mass protests against the government.
Earlier, Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman, dismissed Monday's move by Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, to appoint a new government, saying the situation in the country called for action, not appointments.
The White House is calling for free and fair elections in Egypt, but refusing to say whether the Washington believes Mubarak should run in those contests.
Mubarak named a new cabinet on Monday in an attempt to quell the ongoing demonstrations against his rule.
Gibbs said the US embassy in Cairo has not been in contact with Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a leading opposition figure, this week.
He also said officials had not been in contact with the Muslim Brotherhood opposition group.
Earlier, EU foreign ministers called for "peaceful dialogue" between the protesters and the government.
Catherine Ashton, the bloc's foreign affairs chief, said: "There needs to be a peaceful dialogue, an open dialogue to actually move forward.
"We have worked closely with Egypt over many years to offer international support and we will be there for the short, medium and long term to help build democracy, the rule of law, all of those values coming into action."
Ashton said that the "legitimate grievances" of Egyptians should be heeded and that it was for the people of Egypt to determine their future and future leadership.
She said that it was not the EU's role to tell Egyptians what to do.
Trinidad Jimenez, Spain's foreign minister, added that the EU supports the "people who are in the street".
Britain separately warned Egypt that repression of anti-government protests would "end badly" but did not call for Mubarak to stand aside.
However it has been criticised for not being bolder or more direct towards the Egyptian leader.
Foreign ministers have urged Mubarak to embark on reform in his country but stopped short of demanding he leave.
The impact of the protests on the Egyptian economy are of concern to Europe, with fears that rising energy prices could hit the region's economic recovery.
