Francis Elliot / Times Online | March 28, 2008

President Sarkozy of France embarrassed Gordon Brown yesterday, heaping praise on his “courage and loyalty” for ratifying the EU treaty without a referendum.

The president said that every other European leader was grateful to Mr Brown for not blocking the replacement to the EU constitution.

In return the Prime Minister signed Britain up to moves to create common EU immigration standards and cooperate on defence and nuclear policy.

At the conclusion of yesterday’s France-UK summit, the French president vowed to continue his charm offensive designed to draw Britain into deeper engagement in the EU.

Mr Sarkozy repeated his call for Britain to play a fuller role in the EU rather than “being on the sidelines”. “We need the British to get Europe moving,” he said, hinting that he had rebuked David Cameron for his pledge to put the Lisbon Treaty to a vote during his private meeting with the Opposition leader.

A 36-page communiqué agreed to deepen cooperation on issues including the reform of international financial regulations and institutions, defence and immigration. New arrangements were made to “combat nuclear terrorism” by screening cross-Channel traffic and the creation of a British civilian rapid reaction force to help to stabilise failing states.

It was the leaders’ agreement to “take forward a new migration pact under the French presidency of the EU” that is likely to prove the most controversial, however. French ministers have said they want a “common definition of the right of asylum” and have backed European Commission proposals that could see asylum seekers shared between EU states.

Ministers sought to emphasise the measures that Britain and France were taking to deter illegal migrants, saying they had agreed to reinforce fences around the port at Calais, three weeks after a loophole was exposed. Illegal immigrants have been able to sneak aboard lorries in Calais because of inadequate fencing.

The two countries would also carry out a joint security audit and look at creating a fast-track system to introduce lighter controls on some goods vehicles, a statement from the Home Office said.

Ministers also agreed to cooperate to prevent any new Sangatte-type refugee centre developing at Calais or elsewhere on the Channel coast.

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