EU leaders resuming talks at a two-day summit in Brussels today are hoping to keep a lid on differences over Iraq and focus on boosting progress on economic reform.
"I have no doubt that the EU will get back together and look to the future and continue to work in a positive manner to make the world a better place," said EU foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana.
The Iraq war clouded the first evening of the summit yesterday, which ended with a joint declaration that papered over differences by pledging to provide humanitarian help and reaffirming the central post-war role of the UN.
Most of the EU leaders, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac, said nothing as they arrived for the second and final day of the summit, which opened almost exactly at the same time as the ground invasion of Iraq began.
At the start of the resumed session, Mr Chirac and Mr Blair - whose troops sustained their first casualties today - were again not seen together as the leaders mingled around the summit table.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder at one point came over to Mr Blair and held a brief conversation with him.
The 15 EU leaders were expected to discuss economic reform in the morning, and meet EU candidate states' leaders in the afternoon.
In what was described as a chilly atmosphere last night, Mr Blair and Mr Chirac met for the first time since the collapse of diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iraq row peacefully.
Diplomats denied reports of a row between the two men, who shook hands during the opening session, although they did not appear in front of cameras together.
The summit was due to end around 2.00 p.m. this afternoon after the traditional family photo of EU leaders.
AFP