Ahead of this week's crucial Nice summit, the foreign secretary, Robin Cook, has vowed to block any moves to include a defence and security clause in the treaty. In a move which could spark fresh controversy between the British and the French governments, Cook said he would fight to the end to retain the UK's veto in the areas of defence and security policy - rejecting calls for "enhanced co-operation" between a limited number of states.

Tony Blair is said to be upbeat ahead of the summit, claiming that he has French support for the retention of the veto in the areas of tax, social security and immigration. Britain is also claiming support of its larger European counterpart countries in its effort to ensure that the biggest EU states retain the largest number of votes in the wake of fears that an increasing number of smaller countries are becoming disproportionately influential within the EU's decision making bodies.

Downing Street yesterday hit back at claims from Romano Prodi that the UK's objection to the extension of qualified majority voting was misguided. Number 10 said that Prodi was out of line with the mainstream views within the EU.