Chirac attacks eastern bloc backing for Bush

Tensions between "old" and "new" Europe exploded into the open last night when the French President, Jacques Chirac, launched an extraordinary attack on eastern bloc nations that have backed the US over Iraq.

M. Chirac, who has led the opposition to hurrying into a war, vented his fury at the "infantile" behaviour of the nations, many of which are due to join the European Union next year.

France was infuriated when Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic joined an Anglo-Spanish declaration in favour of Washington's approach. A few days later 10 other eastern European nations signed a similar letter – appearing to confirm claims from the US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, of a division between "old Europe" and the newcomers.

Asked at an EU summit about the countries' actions, M. Chirac said it was "not really responsible behaviour". He said: "Concerning the candidate countries, honestly, I felt they acted frivolously, because entry into the European Union implies a minimum of understanding for the others." He added: "It is not well-brought up behaviour. They missed a good opportunity to keep quiet."

He warned the candidates the position could be "dangerous" because the 15 EU nations still have to ratify plans to admit 10 new members next year.

And he sent a sharp rebuke to Romania and Bulgaria, who are still negotiating to enter the bloc in 2007. "Romania and Bulgaria were particularly irresponsible to [sign the letter] when their position is really delicate," M. Chirac said. "If they wanted to diminish their chances of joining Europe, they could not have found a better way."

M. Chirac added: "When you're in the family you have more rights than when you're knocking on the door."

The comments are likely to provoke anger in the applicant countries, whose leaders were not invited to last night's emergency EU summit. Instead, they will be briefed on its outcome today by Costas Simitis, the Prime Minister of Greece, which holds the EU presidency.