EU group to boost military co-operation

FOUR EU countries opposed to the US war in Iraq agreed yesterday to boost their military co-operation, aiming to make Europe’s defence less dependent on the United States.

However, the four countries France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg stressed their plans were not aimed at undermining NATO and would instead strengthen the alliance.

"This is not directed against NATO," said German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder after the meeting in Brussels. "It's a reinforcement of NATO, because it will strengthen the European pillar."