Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg -- the EU states most fiercely opposed to the Iraq war -- proposed the idea shortly after the conflict, following a mini-summit in Brussels at the end of April.

The plan for a new headquarters at Tervuren, just outside the Belgian capital, was immediately lambasted by leaders from more US-friendly EU states who said it would double-up with NATO.

Diplomats from countries opposed to the move have said they hoped the idea would be quietly forgotten.

But Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said Tuesday it is still firmly on the agenda.

"The most controversial point... remains that of Europe's capacity to plan and execute European operations autonomously. That is the European military command headquarters," he told a meeting of Belgian ambassadors.

He said such an HQ was an "absolute necessity," given the existence of autonomous European operations" such as that deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the last few months.

"The European Union must be up to planning and deploying such operations. Such an ability will be put in place next year in Tervuren. There cannot be the slightest doubt on this matter," he added.

Three of the four countries behind the Brussels HQ plans sparked an unprecedented crisis in NATO in the run-up to the Iraq war: Belgium, France and Germany blocked the Alliance from deploying military support in Turkey.

Their April 29 mini-summit was seen by critics as a further provocation aimed firmly at the United States, which has long dominated the 19-member Brussels-based Alliance.

According to one report last month, Britain has responded to the four-country initiative by proposing a European "planning cell" based in the NATO military headquarters in Mons, Belgium, to avoid undermining the alliance.

Citing unnamed British officials, The Times of London such a cell would give the European Union "a proper identity" while dissipating support for the Belgian-led initiative.

Britain has circulated its rival plan, entitled "Food For Thought" to its 14 EU partners and the 10 countries due to join the regional grouping next year, it reported. The plan is likely to find favour with Spain, Ireland, Italy and the bulk of the future members, from eastern Europe, the paper added.

The Belgian prime minister welcomed the British proposal -- but insisted that it could not end the need for an autonomous headquarters.

"I find the British proposal excellent," he said. "This cell seems to me to be perfectly suited to serve as a liaison body with the European military command headquarters.

"But it cannot represent an alternative to the autonomous headquarters," he said.

He added that the four-nation initiative was "completely complementary to NATO," adding that that the new headquarters would be "open to all (EU) member states and future member states."

WAR.WIRE