The French want to concoct a euro-zone block, with a direct line to the European Central Bank and fiscal harmonisation.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne

Alexandria has had a wireless network up and running since April that covers an eight-block zone in its Old Town neighborhood, a heavily pedestrian area filled with shops and restaurants.

FORBES: Orlando Kills Municipal Wi-Fi Project

To the others it seemed that Mr Cameron was threatening to block a deal in the euro zone's darkest hour.

ECONOMIST: The European Union and the euro

In September 2010, the EU again called on Bulgaria to take urgent action to tackle crime and corruption, and later in the year France and Germany announced that they would block Bulgaria from joining the Schengen passport-free zone until the country had made "irreversible progress" in this area.

BBC: Bulgaria profile

EU's enlargement to include ten new member countries, which took place last May, was sold as a golden opportunity to expand a European zone of peace, prosperity and co-operation into the former Soviet block.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne