EU and NATO 'facing disaster' over Iraq

The EU presidency warned today of a “deep crisis” if Europe cannot speak with one voice on Iraq and feared the bitter dispute that has split Nato could disrupt a European Union summit next week.

Monday’s summit will focus on trying to heal the divisions over Iraq among the 15 European Union nations. The split has come to the fore in Nato this week, where France, Germany and Belgium rejected a US backed plan on preparations for a possible war in Iraq.

The vetoes caused the alliance’s worst crisis in years and angering other EU nations which support the US call for preparations to protect Nato member Turkey against the threat of Iraqi attacks.

Speaking at the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Tassos Giannitsis said the EU summit would be “critical” for both the EU and Iraq.

Greece currently holds the EU’s presidency, but has been hard pressed to find common ground among the 15 members.

“Europe will have to take decisions to preserve its unity and to assert its role on the world stage,” said Giannitsis. “It is going to be a very difficult exercise,” he added.

Greek officials have said the summit was the last possible chance to form a common EU front, without further damaging the EU as a serious partner for the United States.

If “this does not occur, then I think the Greek presidency will have exhausted all possibilities,” said Panos Belglitis, spokesman for the Greek foreign minister.

Signs of the divisions over Iraq were apparent at the German-Spanish summit in the Canary Islands today.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar came out against giving more time for inspections, saying, “I don’t think the problem we have before us is a problem of the inspectors. What’s before us is the lack of willingness” by Iraq to cooperate.

At the European Parliament, speakers blasted the disunity but also found their own 626 member body deeply divided, as dozens of members- mostly socialists and greens- held up No to War signs while several conservatives had Saddam Out signs.

“If Europe fails to pull together ... it will be impossible to continue working closely with the United States on a long-standing basis while retaining our dignity,” European Commission President Romano Prodi told parliament

“What is at stake is our determination to be heeded and to play a leading role on the world stage,” said Prodi, who heads the EU’s top executive body.

“It seems hard to believe that this disunity... can reach a lower point,” said Liberal Democrat leader Graham Watson. “That will only provide comfort for Saddam Hussein.”

Hans-Gert Poettering, leader of the assembly’s largest group- the conservative People’s party agreed.

“The European Union and Nato are facing a disaster. Europe offers a sorry picture,” he said.