The French President, still smarting over letters and articles from existing and future EU members backing the United States and Britain, suddenly turned on the new boys.

In a reference to Bulgaria and Romania, still negotiating their EU membership terms, M Chirac said: “If anyone had wanted to damage their chances of joining the EU, they could not have done it in a better way.”

It was an explosive end to one of the tensest nights in the EU’s recent history. It was one that was resolved, as so often before, by a classic fudge. But it was an outcome that had more for Mr Blair than M Chirac.

The text finalised over a tense working dinner in the Council of Ministers’ headquarters in Brussels was tougher than the bland statement agreed by foreign ministers just three weeks earlier.

As the leaders ate their way through grilled scallops with truffles, followed by monkfish with aubergine, a selection of cheeses and fresh pineapple, they alluded to the possibility of military action for the first time by specifying that force could not be ruled out, but insisting that it should be used “only as a last resort”.

As they supped Greek wine, in deference to Greece, which chaired the emergency meeting, the key advance for Mr Blair and the hawks was the recognition in the communiqué that inspections “cannot continue indefinitely”. They were the words Mr Blair needed to stop the UN process being dragged out interminably.

To avoid domestic strife, the British Prime Minister badly needs to keep the United Nations involved. Delays beyond next month would see the Americans going it alone.

The Times understands that in certain circumstances, Mr Blair is prepared for the crucial meeting of the United Nations to be delayed until March 14 — but only if the French look like they will come on board for a second resolution.

However, there was a victory for M Chirac, Gerhard Schröder and the other doves when the resolution was amended to say that the inspectors should be given “the time and resources that the Security Council believes they need”.

But even there, there was a tiny victory for Mr Blair. Herr Schröder tried to say that there should be “more time”, but the hawks succeeded in removing the word “more”.

It also recognises that the military build-up that has resulted in some 200,000 American and 42,000 British troops being sent to the region has “been essential” in ensuring that Saddam has allowed the UN inspectors to return.

The EU repeated its support for the UN to take the lead in the present conflict, emphasising that “primary responsibility for dealing with Iraqi disarmament lies with the Security Council”.

In last night’s draft text the European Union placed the Iraqi crisis in a wider, international and historical context for the first time. It said that the outcome would have “an important impact on the world in the next decades” — echoing Mr Blair’s comments that the course of action taken would influence generations to come.

Special overtures were made to Arab countries and the Middle East. The first were encouraged to bring home to Saddam Hussein the extreme danger of miscalculating the gravity of the situation he faces.

The EU also confirmed its belief in the need to reinvigorate the Middle East peace process and to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and emphasised that the unity of the international community was vital in dealing with these many issues.

“We are committed to working with all our partners, especially the United States, for the disarmament of Iraq, for peace and stability in the region and for a decent future for all its people,” the statement noted.

Mr Blair made no attempt to suggest last night that it had been anything other than a difficult encounter.

He admitted that he had tried to be diplomatic in what he had said. He voiced his frustration that everyone around the table had agreed that Saddam was not co-operating fully, but that some of them were not yet ready to admit that he was in full breach.

M Chirac appeared to have had the roughest time. He was taken on by Silvio Berlusconi, and the Dutch and Irish Prime Ministers also sent verbal volleys in his direction.

He remains the key to continuing the UN route.

M Chirac may be “grandstanding” as many diplomats in Brussels believe.

Yesterday, he arrived, saying that he would oppose a second UN resolution “today”. The word “today” is significant. Most observers believe that he will come on board eventually when he becomes convinced that military action is imminent.

If his price is a couple more weeks of inspections, it is one that Britain and America may be prepared to pay.

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