Nick Clegg has been drafted in to aid David Cameron's attempts to win over European leaders ahead of key EU budget talks.
The Prime Minister is under pressure over what is threatening to be a fractious summit in Brussels later this week.
Yesterday a senior member of his party called for two EU referendums while Labour leader Ed Miliband warned against the UK "sleepwalking" out of membership.
The Deputy Prime Minister is to speak to a number of his European counterparts
An ex-MEP, who is fluent in a number of languages including Spanish, Mr Clegg is seen as much more pro-European than the Conservative leader. Aides to Mr Clegg said his role included reassuring European leaders the Coalition "is at one on this one, despite different views on Europe overall".
"Nick is very well respected in Europe. He knows how the system works," they said, adding that Mr Clegg could speak to many leaders in their own languages, "literally as well as metaphorically".
The Tory leader is viewed with suspicion among some EU leaders after his decision to use his veto in a summit last December.
The move also heightened tensions with Mr Clegg, who was angry he was not consulted.
Since then the Deputy Prime Minister has sent his own official to summits to provide him with updates and convey his opinion to the Prime Minister. Despite Mr Clegg's involvement in the pre-negotiations it is thought the arrangement will continue and he will not travel to Brussels this Thursday.
In a speech to businesses leaders yesterday Mr Cameron gave no hint he had softened his stance – to argue for at least a freeze if not a cut in the budget. Earlier former Justice Secretary Ken Clarke had suggested that was simply a negotiating strategy calling it a "starting point".
However, Mr Cameron gave no indication of playing politics, telling the CBI annual conference that the EU had to stop "picking the pockets" of taxpayers.
The EU spends around £100 billion a year and Brussels is suggesting an increase in its budget of around 5%.
Failure to agree a deal could leave the EU in deadlock, but if Mr Cameron returns with one not deemed to be in the UK's best interest he will fuel unrest among backbenchers. One, David Davis, outlined plans for two referendums – one within a year to approve powers for the UK to seize back, and an in-out poll.
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