Sarkozy and Cameron clash

A HEATED argument reportedly broke out between Nicolas Sarkozy and David Cameron at the Brussels euro summit.

“We’re sick of you criticising us and telling us what we need to do,” President Sarkozy told Mr Cameron, according to the British press, which cited “officials”.

“You say you hate the euro and now you want to interfere in our meetings,” Sarkozy added, according to papers including the The Guardian and The Telegraph. He is even said to have told him “You have lost a good opportunity to shut up”.

The exchange is understood to have followed objections from Mr Cameron to plans to follow Sunday’s summit with another on Wednesday – at which final decisions are expected to be taken over measures to prevent a deepening crisis for the single currency. The French president was angry because of “constant criticism and lectures from UK ministers,” said The Guardian.

It was initially planned only eurozone chiefs would attend on Wednesday, but it was finally agreed all 27 states will attend, not just those from the 17 that use the euro.

Mr Cameron has argued that decisions affecting the euro also affect the non-eurozone states.

The exchange came as EU leaders agreed that if necessary there could be “limited” change to the EU’s treaty if it will help resolve the crisis.

Today Mr Cameron also faces a challenge in the ranks of his own party, as a vote is taken on a plan for a referendum on coming out of the EU, called for by hardline Conservative eurosceptics.

It is not, however, expected to go through, as the prime minster is firmly against the move and has imposed a three-line whip. The Lib Dems and Labour are also opposed to it.