BERLIN, June 09, SPA -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy travels to southern Germany Monday for a meeting with ChancellorAngela Merkel that comes as France prepares to take thereins of the European Union, the Associated Press reported. France takes the rotating EU presidency from Slovenia onJuly 1. Before Monday's meeting in the Bavarian town ofStraubing, Merkel pledged that Berlin will «support to thebest 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 accordbetween the 27 EU members on immigration and asylum. She also noted that France will have the job of pilotingEU efforts against global warming, and said that «we needa fair sharing of the burden. »--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/563533