Prodi Warns That Iraq War Could Strain Alliance

America must avoid taking action on Iraq that would damage the global anti-terrorist coalition, Romano Prodi, the European commission president, warned yesterday.

Speaking in advance of tomorrow's EU-US summit, the first since the September 11 attacks, he said it was vital for these "mature and serious partners" to work together for a more stable world. But Chris Patten, the EU external relations commissioner, expressed concern about Washington giving in to a "unilateralist temptation" in trade, arms control and the environment.

Although Iraq is not formally on the agenda of the Washington talks, at which Europe will be led by Jose Maria Aznar, the Spanish prime minister, and the US by President George Bush, the two sides are unable to agree on the need for military action to overthrow President Saddam Hussein.

Mr Prodi, anxious to avoid a public row on an issue where Britain is close to the American position, only hinted at the possible damage to transatlantic relations.

"Obviously one should bear in mind the consequences that this would have on the global set-up," he said. "The coalition the United States put together after September 11 has been a great example of political intelligence, and it is quite clear that it is so precious that we should do nothing to harm it."

He did not attempt to conceal the EU's anger at the ongoing row over the huge tariffs Mr Bush slapped on foreign steel imports to protect America's failing industry in response to domestic political pressure.

"I cannot over-emphasise how disappointed we are," the European commission president said. He insisted that the EU had no choice but to threaten to impose €377m (£234m) worth of sanctions on US products from next month. The episode raised questions about Washington's commitment to the rules of the World Trade Organisation, he added.

He sought to underline Europe's contribution to the fight against global terrorism, which has seen enhanced transatlantic police, judicial and financial cooperation since the al-Qaida attacks.

Later this week the EU is expected to decide that the Kurdish Workers' party, the PKK, will be added to the list of banned organisations whose assets can be frozen.

EU justice ministers last week approved a mandate to negotiate extradition and judicial cooperation agreements with the US. But there are differences on the death penalty and the use of military tribunals to try foreign terrorist suspects.

However, it is clear that European solidarity is threatened by resentment of America's go-it-alone instincts.

Mr Patten told the English-Speaking Union at Guildhall in London: "America's overwhelming pre-eminence has generated increasing pressure within the US to abandon her internationalist past in favour of an unapologetic pursuit of national interest, imposing her will unilaterally and resisting outside obligations that might constrain her freedom of action."

On the Middle East, which is likely to be the main subject of the one-day summit, Mr Prodi signalled that he wanted Mr Bush to do more to rein in the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon.

He said Washington's efforts to defuse the latest wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence would not succeed unless there were negotiations under the aegis of the so-called Quartet - the US, EU, Russia and the United Nations.