Prime Minister Tony Blair met Friday with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso for talks on economic reform of the European Union, aid for developing countries and climate change, a British official said. Blair, who is recovering from a slipped disc in his back, was holding a breakfast meeting with Barroso at his country residence, Chequers. A spokesman at Blair's Downing Street office said the talks would focus on Barroso's economic reform agenda, which will figure prominently during Britain's six-month presidency of the European Union beginning in July. The spokesman said the leaders would also discuss Britain's priorities for its presidency of the Group of Eight industrialized nations _ tackling climate change and global poverty, according to AP. Barroso was scheduled to give a lecture at the London School of Economics later Friday on how the European Union can play a more effective role in helping developing countries. --More 1227 Local Time 0927 GMT
