Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, appeared on Friday to have healed a rift with the Czech Republic that was threatening to mar this weekend’s celebrations in Berlin to mark the 50th birthday of the European Union.

A senior aide to the chancellor said Ms Merkel had called Vaclav Klaus, the eurosceptic Czech president, and Mirek Topolanek, prime minister, and persuaded them to endorse the joint commemorative text prepared by Berlin to celebrate the occasion.