Cameron and Sarkozy to test rapport at talks David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy will meet in Paris on Friday for their first bilateral talks since Anglo-French relations were strained by the British veto at the European Union summit in December. While the British prime minister and French president forged a strong personal relationship in the heat of last year's Libya conflict, the meeting in Paris will test how much their rapport has been bruised by the eurozone crisis, which has seen the leaders trading insults. The crises over Syria and Iran are expected to be high on the agenda, as well as collaboration on civil nuclear power. But the main theme is likely to be deepening Anglo-French defence co-operation, including a joint project by UK-based BAE Systems and Dassault, of France, to build unmanned aerial vehicles. There will be a fresh push in areas singled out for bilateral co-operation in an important 2010 summit between the two leaders, such as plans for a combined joint expeditionary force that would see the French and British armies deployed jointly in any future crisis. On civil atomic power, the two countries will spell out for the first time a common vision for the industry in the wake of last year's Japanese nuclear accident. French and British companies will sign 10 memorandums of understanding covering contracts in civil nuclear and renewable energy, setting the countries apart from Germany, which has vowed to abandon atomic power. By contrast, differences over the eurozone will be the test for Mr Sarkozy and Mr Cameron, after their confrontation in Brussels, when the prime minister used his veto against the new fiscal discipline treaty. On that occasion, Mr Sarkozy reportedly called Mr Cameron "an obstinate kid." The prime minister later irritated the French with a speech in Davos lecturing eurozone leaders on their failings and describing French plans for a tax on financial transactions as "crazy." "We certainly had some strong disagreements and there were some petites phrases that were not meant to be leaked," says a senior French official. We did not like to be lectured by the British side and they did not give us the impression they were supportive in the crisis. That said, the differences were exaggerated in the media and tensions were overplayed. Another source of tension has emerged in recent weeks, with Rafale's victory over the UK-backed Eurofighter in the competition to provide fighter jets to India. This was a big win for Mr Sarkozy, who personally lobbied hard for Rafale. Mr Cameron's subsequent statements suggesting the Rafale was inferior to Eurofighter Typhoon and talking of trying to reopen the deal did not go down well in Paris. However, Mr Cameron insists the two men have a strong personal relationship and he is likely to be wary of the prospect of Mr Sarkozy losing office to François Hollande, the socialist challenger, in May's presidential election. Mr Hollande has taken a tough stance against the banking sector, saying the financial world is his "true adversary." He is also sceptical of Mr Sarkozy's historic decision to reintegrate France into Nato's command structure. However, Mr Hollande has said he wants to ensure Britain remains a full EU partner.