French President Nicolas Sarkozy met with Chancellor Angela Merkel Monday in southern Germany as France prepares to take the reins of the European Union next month, reported ap. France takes the rotating EU presidency from Slovenia on July 1. Before Sarkozy's arrival in the Bavarian town of Straubing, Merkel pledged that Berlin will «support to the best of its ability» the six-month French presidency. In an interview with the Straubinger Tagblatt newspaper, she welcomed Sarkozy's intention to press for an accord between the 27 EU members on immigration and asylum. She also noted that France will have the job of piloting EU efforts against global warning, and said that «we need a fair sharing of the burden.» France and Germany have differed on EU plans to limit cars' carbon dioxide emissions. Germany, whose luxury automakers likely would be hit hard, has argued that large and small vehicles both must contribute to cuts; France, which makes less polluting vehicles, has disagreed. Merkel's spokesman, Ulrich Wilhelm, said Friday that talks are ongoing and he does not expect a deal to be announced Monday. Meanwhile, a Sarkozy proposal to cool rocketing oil prices by lowering EU fuel taxes has won little support elsewhere in Europe. The meeting comes amid uncertainty over the outcome of Thursday's referendum in Ireland on the EU's Lisbon Treaty, meant to reform the bloc's structures and streamline its decision making. France has ratified the document, which also has been approved by the German parliament. Monday's regular French-German meeting also is to include French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and the two countries' foreign, defense, economy and environment ministers.
