European leaders last night expressed support for the military strikes against Afghanistan and promised continued solidarity with Washington in the campaign against terrorism. The German chancellor, Dr Gerhard Schr÷der, said President Bush had telephoned him in advance of the attacks, which Germany supported "without reservation".
Although Britain was the only member-state of the European Union with forces involved in last night's attacks, the French president, Mr Jacques Chirac, said France would become involved. "The military operations will take place over a long period. Their aim is to punish the guilty and destroy the infrastructure of the terrorist networks in Afghanistan and those that support them. Our forces will take part in that," he said. "At this stage, French ships are associated with this operation."
The Italian prime minister, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, who was accused of destabilising the international coalition against terrorism with remarks comparing Christianity with Islam, offered his country's support. "Italy is on the side of the United States and of all those who are committed to the fight against terrorism," he said.
The Commission president, Mr Romano Prodi, called the 19 members of the commission to a crisis meeting last night.
"At this difficult, solemn and dramatic moment, all Europe stands steadfast with the United States and its coalition allies to pursue the fight against terrorism. We are united, and will remain united, in this struggle against those who attack the very foundations of civilisation. Our fight is not against religions or peoples," Mr Prodi said.
He asked the External Relations Commissioner, Mr Chris Patten, immediately to co-ordinate the EU's humanitarian response in the region. "Our assistance is already being mobilised to provide help to those who may be the innocent victims of this situation and to refugees escaping from the military action," Mr Prodi said.
The EU has been unambiguous in its support for the right of the United States to launch a military strike in response to last month's attacks. EU leaders have stressed that any US response should be targeted and should seek to avoid civilian casualties.
But in an interview with The Irish Times last week, the EU's foreign policy chief, Mr Javier Solana, acknowledged any military campaign involved the risk of killing innocent civilians. "You have to choose between doing nothing or doing it with a risk," he said. "Of course you have to limit the risk, but there's always a risk."
When EU foreign ministers meet in Luxembourg today, they will discuss the latest developments in the international campaign against terrorism and consider future options for the government of Afghanistan. They will also discuss the future of the Middle East peace process, which many EU leaders regard as a key element in the process of removing support in Arab and Muslim countries for fundamentalist extremist groups.
The Belgian foreign minister, Mr Louis Michel, proposed at the weekend that the EU, the US, Russia, Jordan and Egypt should urge the Israeli prime minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, to meet the Palestinian leader, Mr Yasser Arafat. The meeting would be chaired by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan. "Our proposal would now offer an opportunity to open a new chance for a meeting between Sharon and Arafat," said Mr Michel.
Few EU member-states are likely to take part in the military response to last month's attacks. However, all have agreed to help the US according to their means.