Germany's Angela Merkel today moved to build bridges with David Cameron as France launched a new attack on Britain.
The powerful Berlin leader called the Prime Minister in his constituency for their first talks since he used the veto last week.
British officials were pleased with the call, which they believe shows Mr Cameron's hardball tactics have paid off.
However, the French finance minister went on the attack this morning. "It's true the economic situation of the UK is very worrying, and one prefers to be French than British in terms of the economy at the moment," Francois Baroin said on French radio station Europe 1.
His comments, coming on top of remarks by prime minister Francois Fillon and central bank chief Christian Noyer, appeared to be a co-ordinated attempt to talk down the British economy.
Mrs Merkel told Mr Cameron, who was at home during the call, that she welcomed that Britain had secured the right to take part in new talk on eurozone treaty. She assured him the treaty would focus on rules to keep eurozone countries out of excessive debt.
The Prime Minister also received a call from Donald Tusk, the Polish premier, who is an ally. However, he is expected to have a cooler conversation soon with Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, who has allegedly called the British leader "an obstinate child".
