President Sarkozy's salute to 'the British, our saviours'

Nicolas Sarkozy launched a lavish cross-Channel charm offensive yesterday, saying France would "never forget" how the blood of British servicemen was mixed with French blood in the trenches of the Great War.

The French president, making an extraordinary address to both Houses of Parliament, also said "all would have been lost" without the heroic resistance of the British during the Second World War.

Ahead of a Franco-British summit today, Mr Sarkozy greeted Gordon Brown French style - with a kiss on both cheeks - before beginning his speech.

He hailed a relationship dating back 1,000 years, praising British democracy, the armed forces and the "dynamism" of the UK's cities and way of life.

Westminster, he said, was the cradle of modern political life, which had given rise to a tradition of Parliamentary democracy that had become the world's "best guarantee against tyranny".

MPs and peers gave him a standing ovation following the 45-minute speech, delivered in French.

It was described as the warmest welcome ever extended to a French president in an official state visit.

Scroll down for more...

Mr Sarkozy said France and Britain had "never been so close" and should now forge a new Franco-British "brotherhood" for the 21st century. Instead of the famous "entente cordiale", he said there should be an "entente amicale".

He then delivered a tough message that Britain must engage more with the EU.

While the Franco-German friendship which has long dominated Europe was "still essential", he said it was "no longer enough to enable Europe to act and bring its full weight to bear".

"Who can think that the United Kingdom would have more influence in the world if she returned to splendid isolation?" he asked.

"Who can think that the challenges facing our nations today could be resolved better in a strictly national framework?"

Mr Sarkozy said he understood Europe was a "sensitive issue" for many British people. But he insisted: "Europe needs the UK. We can't build a prosperous, democratic, efficient Europe without the UK.

"If we want to change Europe my dear British friends - and we Frenchmen do wish to change Europe - we need you inside Europe to help us do so, not standing on the outside."

He suggested that France might be open to reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, which sees massive EU subsidies going to French farmers.

And France, he confirmed, was ready to offer to send more troops to help the Nato mission in Afghanistan. "If these proposals are accepted, then France will suggest strengthening its presence," he said.

"We cannot afford to lose Afghanistan. We cannot afford to see the Taliban and Al Qaeda returning to Kabul. Whatever the cost, however difficult the victory, we cannot afford it. We must win."

France and Britain would also work together to tackle the challenges of energy, immigration, security and defence, Mr Sarkozy said.

On Britain's proud history, he asked: "How many invincible armadas has your nation defeated? How many battles has it won which everyone thought lost?

"Your nation has succeeded in taking up so many challenges which seemed out of reach precisely because it quite simply was convinced that its cause was right, because it had faith in itself, in its values, because in all circumstances it has demonstrated an unfailing determination and courage.

"In this respect, the Battle of Britain was a magnificent achievement.

"In the hearts and minds even of those who fought against it, your nation has stood out through its respect of the other, its tolerance, its way of life, its freedom of spirit which has been forged throughout a long history full of sound and fury.

"In all circumstances, it has succeeded in remaining itself, continued thinking for itself, and that was enough for it to embody, in the eyes of many, a human and political ideal."

Mr Sarkozy added: "Our two countries' destinies have been closely intertwined for nearly 1,000 years.

"Since William the Conqueror set off from Normandy to seize hold of the throne of Edward the Confessor, to the reverse journey made by hundreds of thousands of young Britons to participate in the liberation of Europe, our destinies have constantly intersected.

"Our nations fought one another for a long time, until the day they understood that what brought them together was more important than what divided them, that they had interests to defend and, even more important still, common values to defend together."

He added: "France hasn't forgotten, she will never forget that when she was almost annihilated Britain was at her side.

"She will never forget the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish blood mixed with the French blood in the mud of the trenches.

"She will never forget the welcome the British people gave General de Gaulle and Free France. She will never forget the heroic resistance of the British people without which all would have been lost.

"She will never forget the fine young people who came from all over the British Empire and laid down their lives on the Normandy beaches.

"As the last century's wars have shown: Like two brothers, what the French people and the British people can accomplish together is far greater than what they can achieve separately."