Blair and Brown hold EU talks with Sarkozy

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will meet with the French president Nicolas Sarkozy ahead of next week's EU summit.

The talks will focus on the EU treaty and follow Mr Blair's meeting with the Czech prime minister, where the EU treaty was "high on the agenda".

Yesterday in parliament, the prime minister was challenged over comments made by Mr Sarkozy that EU leaders had already agreed a constitutional framework.

Mr Blair defended meeting with EU leaders, insisting "it is sensible for us to build allies in Europe".

The prime minister has long-pushed for an EU treaty devoid of any constitutional elements that would force a referendum.

France and the Netherlands have already rejected a draft EU constitution in referenda in 2005.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference yesterday, Mr Blair said there was "no point going back" to a constitutional treaty.

Mr Blair said he would push for "tough negotiations" at the summit, which takes place on June 21 and 22 in Brussels.

He said: "There is a real desire in Europe to settle this issue and move on – to energy, migration and to a defence mechanism that works well.

"We are determined to get something that satisfies the requirements to make Europe more efficient."

In prime minister's questions, Mr Blair insisted MPs' would not lose their lawmaking powers as a result of agreements with Europe.

Mr Blair said: "Parliament is always sovereign. That's a constitutional principle. It's a constitutional fact.

"I will agree to nothing that allows Europe to alter our laws without the say of this House."