French-UK links to be strengthened in 'entente formidable'
Thursday, 27 March 2008 12:00 AM
French and British ministers are to hold regular biannual summits under the new "entente amicale", Gordon Brown has announced.
In a joint press conference at Arsenal Football Club's Emirates Stadium Mr Brown and French president Nicolas Sarkozy announced their plans to create a "formidable" Franco-British alliance.
Senior officials will meet every three months while ministers will hold summits every six months, it was announced, while the regular annual summit will address the "challenges" these raise, it was announced.
Among the other measures Mr Brown revealed were "pooled influence" on the reform of international institutions, the promotion of a climate stability fund and a "coordinated approach" on issues like climate change, immigration and trade.
The two men said they would provide £16 million in funding for educational schemes in Africa.
"We believe that working together France and Britain can be an even greater force for good in the world of tomorrow," the prime minister said.
Mr Sarkozy praised the "exemplary cooperation between our two countries" and described Mr Brown as "one of the best finance ministers that Europe has seen in the last ten years".
He said he had been working "hand in glove" with Mr Brown since the pair came to power last year and said they had a good personal relationship.
A new taskforce "to deepen coordination on major issues of international concern" and plans to "develop new methods of ensuring the greater coordination of policy" will advance this agenda, Mr Brown pointed out.
"There has never been greater cooperation between France and Britain as there is now," Mr Brown added.
Inevitably French journalists asked about the coverage of Mr Sarkozy's wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who has received positive comments from the media over the past two days.
The president said he was proud of his wife and condemned the "wretched articles" appearing about her in the press recently.
"I am proud that people have seen her for what she really is. This is a woman who has beliefs, sensitivity - a humane person - which contribute to Carla's elegance."
Ms Bruni-Sarkozy and Sarah Brown, the prime minister's wife, had had lunch together while their husbands held talks at Downing Street this morning.
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