the rift between the uk and france over the iraq question cast into bold relief two starkly different positions regarding the role of europe in world affairs. thus, broadly supportive of the french and german position were belgium, greece, luxembourg, and neutral states such as the republic of ireland. in the atlanticist corner, meanwhile, apart from the uk were to be found spain, italy, the netherlands, as well as portugal and denmark. the support of central european and baltic eu member states for the u.s. position, as declared in february 2003, served to anger the french and led to president chirac's famous outburst that the government of these countries had