'EU could have averted war'

2004-01-02 17:51

Rome - A politically united Europe could have prevented the war on Iraq, according to European Union Commission President Romano Prodi, quoted in an interview published on Friday in the Italian daily La Repubblica.

"If Europe had been present and united, I believe, we would not have seen the war on Iraq," Prodi said, adding "Then we would have managed to find a solution to preserve the peace."

Prodi also strongly criticized Italy's handling of the rotating EU presidency in the second half of 2003.

The government of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlsuconi failed in matters such as the debate on the new European constitution and the row over the stability pact, he said.

Prodi, who was Italian Prime Minister between 1996 and 1998, is politically opposed to Berlusconi, and recently suggested a list of centre-left parties to candidate in the upcoming European Parliament elections in June.

Prodi, regarded by observers as the only hopeful candidate against Berlusconi in Italy, did not comment on recent media speculations whether he would run against Berlusconi in the next Italian elections. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA