Merkel, Sarkozy meet to prepare for French EU presidency -- china.org.cn

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy began a one-day summit on Monday to seek compromises on key issues ahead of France's EU presidency.

Energy and global warming are high on the agenda of the summit at the southern German town of Straubing, which also involved French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and the two countries' foreign, defense, economy and environment ministers.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) is welcomed by German Chancellor and head of Germany's Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) Angela Merkel as he arrives for a council of ministers meeting in the Bavarian town of Straubing June 9, 2008.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel give a news conference after a council of ministers meeting in the Bavarian town of Straubing, about 120km (75 miles) north-east of Munich, June 9, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

In an interview with the German daily Straubinger Tagblatt published on Monday, Merkel said Sarkozy could count on Germany's full support during France's six-month EU presidency which begins on July 1.

One of the thorny issues which have put Germany and France at odds is France's plan to push through binding rules for EU states to implement ambitious greenhouse gas emission targets for cars.

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