BLAIR CONGRATULATES SARKOZY

Mr Sarkozy, of the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement, beat his Socialist rival Segolene Royal by a comfortable margin.

With more than half of the vote counted, Mr Sarkozy, 52, appeared to be on course to take 53% of the vote to Ms Royal's 46%.

He will take over from President Jacques Chirac, with whom Mr Blair has had a rocky relationship in recent years.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister has spoken to Nicolas Sarkozy to offer his congratulations."

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has urged Mr Sarkozy to take a central role in resolving the EU's crisis over a constitution.

Mr Barroso phoned Paris to convey "warmest congratulations" to the next French President - but issued a statement later pointedly also praising the EU credentials of rival candidates Segolene Royal and Francois Bayrou.

The statement referred to the "remarkable campaign" fought by Ms Royal - a hint of the concern in Brussels that Mr Sarkozy's victory means battles ahead over the scope of the constitution and the scale of continued EU expansion.

But Mr Barroso diplomatically stuck to political niceties, hailing a victory for democracy thanks to a massive turnout, and a victory for Europe because of the robust political debate.

"This election has been very closely followed in Europe, because France counts in Europe." said Mr Barroso. "France has always been at the centre of European politics and a strong Europe needs a 'European' France."