European Union diplomats have moved swiftly to dismiss suggestions that yesterday's decision by all member-states to participate in a peacekeeping force in Afghanistan represented the EU's first joint military initiative.
Announcing the agreement to send troops, Belgium's Foreign Minister, Mr Louis Michel, said it marked a turning point in the history of the EU.
"The European Union is going to create unanimously a multinational force. I think this is of capital importance for Europe's security and defence policy.
"I think you can say it's a turning point in the history of the European Union," he said.
Other European politicians poured cold water on Mr Michel's remarks and Germany's Foreign Minister, Mr Joschka Fischer, said the leaders had not agreed to deploy an EU force.
"Even if we wanted to, we could not do it as we are not as far as we need to be with the structures," he said.
The EU's Rapid Reaction Force is not yet ready for deployment and the leaders failed yesterday to resolve a dispute about co-operation with Turkey that is holding up an agreement to allow the EU force to use NATO assets.
Britain indicated yesterday that it is prepared to lead the force in Afghanistan, which is likely to include troops from Canada, Norway, Turkey and Jordan as well as EU member-states.
The force would operate under a United Nations mandate that is expected to be agreed in New York next week.
Military experts said last night that the mission is likely to be in two phases, with the first phase involving rapidly deployable heavy units with a winter operational capability.
Irish forces, which are predominantly light infantry, are unlikely to be deployed until the second phase of the operation, possibly in the second half of next year.
The leaders were expected last night to adopt a declaration on the situation in the Middle East, calling on Israel to stop its military action against the Palestinian Authority.
In a letter to the 15 leaders this week, Israel's Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, said that his government regarded the Palestinian leader, Mr Yasser Arafat, as "irrelevant" to resolving the conflict.
The leaders insisted that Mr Arafat remained Israel's only legitimate partner for peace and said the attacks on the Palestinian Authority were unacceptable.
"The European Union considers the elected President, Yasser Arafat, as the legitimate negotiating partner.
Any attempts to weaken or discredit him are therefore unacceptable," a draft declaration said.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, spoke yesterday to the Palestinian Minister for International Co-operation, Mr Nabil Shaath.
Mr Cowen said later that Israel's military action in recent days raised questions about whether Mr Sharon wanted to negotiate with the Palestinian Authority or to destroy it. "That has very serious consequences for the continuation of the peace process," he said.
Sweden's Foreign Minister, Ms Anna Lindh, said all sides must return to the negotiating table.
"Sharon especially must accept the peace process and accept continued negotiations," she said.
The leaders' declaration will renew the EU's appeal to Mr Arafat to do everything in his power to prevent acts of terrorism and to dismantle terrorist networks surrounding Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The draft declaration includes a call on the Palestinian Authority to issue a public appeal in Arabic to end the armed Intifada.
Mr Cowen made clear, however, that his most serious concern centres on Israel's armed action against the Palestinian Authority, which he said was preventing Mr Arafat from taking effective action against terrorists.
"It is very important to ask the question why there appears to be a policy pursued by Israel which does not bode well for the future partnership with the Palestinian Authority," he said.
Mr Cowen said it was crucial that peace talks should recommence according to the conditions outlined in the Mitchell and Tenet plans.