Nicolas Sarkozy lavished praise on Gordon Brown today, saying it had been a “true pleasure” to work with him.

The French President said it did not behove him to intervene in the UK elections but nevertheless came close to making a personal endorsement of Mr Brown.

And he made a passionate appeal for Britain not to disengage from Brussels. “I remain convinced that the place [of Britain] is bang in the middle of Europe,” he said. “We need you – you have a lot to contribute.”

Asked directly about David Cameron’s decision to withdraw the Tories from the Europe People’s Party (EPP) grouping he said that he continued to regret it.

“I don’t want to meddle in domestic affairs,” he said before adding that the EPP were “good bunch of people”.

President Sarkozy will hold his first meeting with the Tory leader since June 2008 later this afternoon. The Elysée palace has made little secret of its irritation with Mr Cameron’s European policies.

But a more friendly tone on Europe in a speech by William Hague, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, has helped to smooth today’s meeting. It is thought likely that the pair will discuss plans for greater co-operation on defence in the event of a Conservative victory in the election.

There will be anger, however, among Mr Cameron’s aides at the warmth of President Sarkozy’s praise for Mr Brown.

At a press conference in Downing Street, Mr Brown sought to exploit his personal relationship with the French President, thanking him and his wife, Carla, for their friendship.

President Sarkozy brushed aside as “ridiculous” rumours about his marriage.