Cameron and Sarkozy to test rapport at talks

Preview and reports of a meeting between UK Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris on the 17 February 2012 forr their first bilateral talks since Anglo-French relations were strained by the British veto at the European Union summit in December 2011.

The crises over Syria and Iran were high on the agenda, as well as collaboration on civil nuclear power. But the main theme was deepening Anglo-French defence co-operation, including a joint project by UK-based BAE Systems and Dassault, of France, to build unmanned aerial vehicles.

The two countries signed a deal with France to strengthen co-operation in the development of civil nuclear energy.

ESO: Background information: UK strikes back at French criticism http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-strikes-back-at-french-criticism/

ESO: Background information: Britain and France should not give up on EU defence co-operation http://www.europeansources.info/record/britain-and-france-should-not-give-up-on-eu-defence-co-operation/

BBC News, 17.2.12: UK and France sign nuclear energy agreement http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17069455

France24, 17.2.12: Britain and France to sign nuclear power deal http://www.france24.com/en/20120217-nuclear-power-deal-sarkozy-cameron-summit-uk-france-areva

United Kingdom: 10 Dowing Street, 17.2.12: UK-France civil nuclear energy agreement http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/uk-france-civil-nuclear-energy-agreement/

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