Greece, which holds the EU's revolving presidency, has invited the union's 15 divided leaders to the summit in Brussels on Monday in the hope of healing the gulf that has opened up over Iraq.

If (a common position) is not achievable then the Greek presidency will have exhausted all the institutional and political possibilities - the European Union will enter a deep crisis Panos Beglitis Greek Foreign Ministry

The EU's divisions were highlighted at a Spanish-German summit in Lanzarote - pitching a staunchly pro-US Jose Maria Aznar against the anti-war Gerhard Schroeder.

The two men failed to agree a statement on the crisis, despite discussions involving them and their foreign ministers.

The Greek Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the wider European summit to be held on Monday was a last chance to achieve unity.

"It is our target and our political will to go to the meeting on Monday for a common position," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis.

Europe's war-sceptics believe the military build-up is premature

"If this is not achievable then the Greek presidency will have exhausted all the institutional and political possibilities a presidency has in its hands. The European Union will enter a deep crisis."

Greece has been wrestling with attempts to draw the bitterly-divided union together.

The divisions were highlighted by a declaration of support for the US, signed by the UK's Tony Blair and seven other European leaders.

Greece, which is in Europe's anti-war camp, did not sign the declaration and was angry that it was not even consulted about it. Prime Minister Costas Simitis said it did nothing to contribute to a common approach on Iraq.

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Conflict with Iraq : Where Europe stands

But divisions have only widened since then, with France, Germany and Russia joining forces to make a joint declaration of support for more weapons inspectors, and a bitter row within Nato about making preparations for war.

The Greeks back France and Germany, which have headed attempts within the EU to steer the US and UK away from war.

But EU members Spain, Italy, Portugal and Denmark signed the letter of support for the US, which urged Europe and the United States to stand together to rid the world of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.