European Union president Greece confirmed today an emergency summit of EU leaders on the Iraq crisis would go ahead next Monday.
Greece proposed the summit to its partners yesterday in an effort to bridge divisions within the 15-nation bloc over whether to support a US-led war in Iraq.
"It has been finalised that the meeting of heads of state and governments will take place on Monday in Brussels. All countries have so far accepted to attend," Greek government spokesman Mr Christos Protopapas told reporters.
The Iraq crisis split the EU and NATO, with Britain, Italy, Spain and others strongly backing the US threat of military force, while France, Germany and Belgium lead calls for a diplomatic resolution.
The summit will start late in the afternoon, diplomats said, and would follow a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Mr Protopapas said Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis hoped to brief leaders of 13 EU candidate countries, mainly from Eastern Europe, on the outcome of the talks.
Greece, which holds the EU's rotating presidency until June 30th, said it hoped the leaders would be able to find some common ground on tackling the crisis despite such deep divisions. "Europe needs to have a common stance at this crucial period," Mr Protopapas said.