Romano Prodi

Europe's splits over Iraq threaten the future of the EU, Romano Prodi has told the European Parliament.

Brussels has been angered and dismayed at what the Commission president described as "the total lack of a European common policy" as the world drifts to war.

And without a united EU front, Prodi warned of a gloomy future for the transatlantic alliance and world peace.

"If Europe fails to pull together, all our nation states will disappear from the world scene. Unless Europe speaks with a single voice, it will be impossible to continue working closely with the United States on a longstanding basis while retaining our dignity," he warned MEPs.

"Unless Europe and the United States work together, there will be no guarantee of world peace and stability."

The squabbling of key EU member states was condemned by Prodi as a poor example to the world - and to new countries clamouring to join the EU club.

"What people remember is the behaviour they see in times of crisis," he said.

"That is what they take as a model, an example for the future. At such times trust is won or lost. What is at stake is our determination to be heeded and to play a leading role on the world stage - a role consonant with Europe's values and traditions, in tune with its interests and its vision of the world."

In comments that echo concerns raised by France, Germany and Belgium, Prodi insisted that the United Nations was "the only legitimate framework" for action against Saddam Hussein.

Paris, Berlin and Brussels are resisting what many European capitals regard as US and UK pressure to back military strikes against Baghdad.

"I am still convinced war is not inevitable and I continue to hope it can be avoided by applying strict controls to the Iraqi dictatorship and maintaining and strengthening the international alliance against terrorism," Prodi told MEPs in Strasbourg.

"At this time we must all strive to find common ground so Europe's diplomats can work something out."

Prodi's comments appear to put EU hawks, led by Britain, at odds with the European Commission.

The UK has led the charge of nations arguing that the menace posed by Iraq has dragged on for too long, a stance countered by the commission chief who warned that no stone must be left unturned to seek a peaceful solution.

"Armed intervention, even under the United Nations - the only legitimate framework for any action to counter threats to world peace and security - can only be a last resort, to be used only after all other options have been found not to work," he said.

"If war breaks out, it must mean all political options have been tried and have failed."

The European parliament was on Wednesday set to hold an emergency debate on the Iraq crisis ahead of what is set to be a bruising summit of national leaders on Monday.

With the EU and NATO's future called into doubt, MEPs may well play the blame game with attacks on European states mirroring national divisions.

However, EU security chief Javier Solana has played down European splits over NATO's support for Turkey.

The Brussels-based representative for foreign and security policy also stepped up diplomatic efforts in a bid to defuse the growing crisis with North Korea.

Solana was optimistic that the coming days should see an end to a current split between NATO members over how to guarantee Turkey's security in the event of a war with Iraq.

Amid fears that the rift between NATO members would undermine the alliance's long-term credibility, Solana voiced confidence that the spat would be over soon.

"I have no doubt it will be solved," he told reporters.

"It is not a question of substance. Turkey will be defended if necessary. It is a question of timing."

France, Germany and Belgium - all members of both the EU and NATO - have blocked contingency plans to ship Patriot missiles and other military equipment to protect Turkey's border with Iraq.

They believe that mounting such a pre-emptive defence sends too strong a signal that military action against Baghdad is inevitable.

EU leaders will meet next Monday in Brussels for a summit aimed at ironing out their differences, although commentators suggest that the gulf between those governments prepared to back force and those adamantly opposed could result in a damaging failure to reach agreement.