David Cameron tonight signalled an end to more than a decade of Tory hostility to the EU when he appointed a moderate figure to the sensitive post of Europe minister, a move that will be welcomed in chancelleries across the continent.

In a sign of the influence of the passionately pro-European Nick Clegg, the former Foreign Office adviser David Lidington was appointed to the Europe post, one of the most senior jobs outside cabinet. Lidington takes the job in place of Mark Francois, the Eurosceptic shadow Europe minister, who had brokered the Tories' controversial split from the main centre-right EPP group in the European parliament.

The appointment of Lidington came as the prime minister moved to repair relations with centre-right leaders across the EU who strongly opposed his decision to abandon the European mainstream. Cameron spoke today to Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish prime minister, who had voiced concerns about the split even though he is the Tory leader's closest EU ally. Cameron also spoke to Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, who leads the largest of the EU's 27 member states.

The prime minister had a "very warm exchange" on Wednesday with Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, who accepted an invitation from Cameron to visit Britain on 18 June. His visit will mark the 70th anniversary of the famous BBC broadcast from London by the leader of the Free French Forces, Charles de Gaulle, in which the future president declared that France "is not alone" and that the country would resist the Nazi occupation of France.

Sarkozy made clear in a letter to Cameron that he hoped to open a new chapter with the Tories when he said he looked forward to "strengthening the very close cooperation and exceptional ties woven between our two countries".

The French president wrote: "Side by side, our two countries carry greater weight in the world. Side by side, they can contribute more effectively to preventing and resolving conflicts."

But Sarkozy made clear that he expected Britain, which is one of the "big three" in the EU, to take its place at its heart. In a carefully phrased conclusion, he indicated that Cameron should follow the example of France, which proudly proclaims a distinct national identity while acting as an enthusiastic leader in the EU.

"Partners in the world of the 21st century, the United Kingdom and France are also united in the European project, where their futures are at stake," the president wrote.

"Legitimately committed to their identities, proud of their pasts, our two countries have sovereignly chosen to stand at the heart of the European Union in order to make their voices heard there and so that Europe's collective voice is heard in the world. With this aim in view, I am keen for Franco-British relations to continue making their contribution to building Europe, in the spirit of trust and friendship spirit which inspires them."

Paris and Berlin, which were delighted when the former EU official and MEP Clegg was appointed deputy prime minister, will also be encouraged by the appointment of Lidington, 53, as Europe minister. He served as a special adviser to the pro-European former foreign secretary Douglas Hurd from 1989-90.

Lidington will balance the fiercely Eurosceptic foreign secretary, William Hague, who is regarded with suspicion across the EU after he ran a strongly nationalistic election campaign as Tory leader in 2001 in which he warned that Britain was turning into a "foreign land". But Lidington, seen as a Euro-realist rather than a pro-European, enjoys strong relations with Hague. He served as his parliamentary aide for the first two years of his leadership of the Conservative party.

The Tories have made clear in recent months that they would be adopting a less confrontational approach to the EU after Cameron dropped his pledge to hold a referendum on the Lisbon treaty. Hague said in March that they had made a strategic decision not to pick a fight with the EU.

Hague and Cameron want to send warm signals to the EU because the next main item on the agenda is a draft directive that would require greater transparency from hedge funds and private equity groups. Britain, home to 80% of Europe's hedge funds, sees this as hostile to the City of London.

George Osborne, the chancellor, who will discuss the draft directive on Tuesday at his first meeting of EU finance ministers, knows he must tread with care. The draft directive will be subject to a qualified majority vote, which means that Britain has no power of veto.