"The first thing to do is to dispel a huge misunderstanding, that risks poisoning our relations (with Washington): the idea that European autonomy in defence matters is a manoeuvre against NATO," Prodi told the Italian daily Repubblica.

"Europe's military commitments, until the creation of a true European armed forces, if that ever becomes a reality, should always be towards NATO, for efficency and speed of decision-making," Prodi said.

"The Alliance must be able to count on its European pillar, as it can already do with the United States," he added.

"We have to show that European integration is moving forwards and that it is not being done against the United States," he said.

Prodi had backed the move by four EU members opposed to the Iraq war to hold a mini-summit on European defence integration, although the talks in April drew sharp criticism from other EU members and the United States.

France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg decided at the summit to set up their own command headquarters for military operations outside the NATO arena and to beef up European military cooperation.

The summit quartet had also blocked a US attempt to boost NATO member Turkey's defences in the run-up to the war, sparking fury in Washington.

WAR.WIRE