Sarkozy, Cameron discuss joint nuclear energy deal

Feb 17, 2012, 11:13 GMT

London - British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy were set to unveil a landmark deal to cooperate on nuclear energy at a summit in Paris Friday.

The summit in Paris is their first bilateral meeting since December's fractious European Union summit, at which Cameron vetoed proposals for a new EU treaty on fiscal discipline, triggering a war of words with France.

Friday's summit aims to turn the page on those tensions.

Ahead of the meeting, the British government announced the two countries would sign a deal to cooperate on nuclear energy, as part of Britain's plans for a slew of new nuclear power plants.

The agreement would create deals worth more than 500 million pounds and would create more than 1,500 jobs in Britain, the government said.

Britain's Rolls-Royce is tipped to secure a major stake in the building by French nuclear constructor Areva of a planned new plant at Hinkley Point in southern Britain.

The two governments will also discuss defence cooperation, amid reports that the two countries are set to unveil plans to develop a new unmanned fighter jet.

French newspaper Les Echos said Thursday that the two governments aimed to build a 'prototype of an unmanned stealth aircraft by 2020.'

Syria, the situation in Libya and the eurozone debt crisis are also likely to be discussed, the British government said.

For Cameron, the trip is also an opportunity to gauge the political temperature in France after Sarkozy's declaration that he will stand for a second term in elections to be held in April and May.

Sarkozy faces an uphill battle to win reelection over his more popular Socialist rival, Francois Hollande.

Accompanying Cameron are his Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and Foreign Secretary William Hague.

On the French side, Prime Minister Francois Fillon, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, Defence Minister Gerard Longuet and Industry Minister Eric Besson are taking part in the talks.

Read more about Great Britain