Downing Street today rejected suggestions of a new rift with France over British Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to call a referendum on the new European Union constitution.
Mr Blair defended the move in a front-page article for the centre-left Le Mondenewspaper in France.
The publication of the article was seen as adding to the pressure on French president Mr Jacques Chirac, who has been resisting calls to hold his own referendum on the issue.
Mr Blair's spokesman said the article was predominantly about EU enlargement and that only one paragraph referred to the referendum decision.
He said Mr Blair had previously discussed his decision to hold a referendum with the French president during one of their routine telephone conversations.
Mr Blair was taunted about his "U-turn" on the referendum by Tory leader Michael Howard at Prime Minister's Questions.
"Isn't it now obvious to everyone that we have a Prime Minister in panic and a Government on the run?" Mr Howard declared.
Although a referendum may be 18 months away, the president of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, warned that ministers must start campaigning now if they want to secure a "yes" vote.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "When I look at the state of the public opinion polls and a large number of the Euro myths that seem to abound, I recall Norman Tebbit's phrase - get on your bike. It is not a time to hang about."
Mr Cox said the referendum would mark a "generational defining moment" for Britain.
"Basically, stripped of the detail of the constitution, the question is even more basic: Is Britain up for it, to give real leadership and play a central role in Europe? Or is Britain opting out?" Mr Cox asked.
"Frankly, it will boil down to that basic instinct in the end," he added.