STRAUBING, Germany, June 9, SPA --French President Nicolas Sarkozymet with Chancellor Angela Merkel Monday in southernGermany as France prepares to take the reins of theEuropean Union next month, reported ap. France takes the rotating EU presidency from Slovenia onJuly 1. Before Sarkozy's arrival 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 warning, and said that «we needa fair sharing of the burden.» France and Germany have differed on EU plans to limitcars' carbon dioxide emissions. Germany, whose luxury automakers likely would be hit hard,has argued that large and small vehicles both mustcontribute to cuts; France, which makes less pollutingvehicles, has disagreed. Merkel's spokesman, Ulrich Wilhelm, said Friday that talksare ongoing and he does not expect a deal to be announcedMonday. Meanwhile, a Sarkozy proposal to cool rocketing oil pricesby lowering EU fuel taxes has won little support elsewherein Europe. The meeting comes amid uncertainty over the outcome ofThursday's referendum in Ireland on the EU's Lisbon Treaty,meant to reform the bloc's structures and streamline itsdecision making. France has ratified the document, which also has beenapproved by the German parliament. Monday's regular French-German meeting also is to includeFrench Prime Minister Francois Fillon and the twocountries' foreign, defense, economy and environmentministers.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/563645