Franco-German pledge
June 11, 2009
"Important personnel and policy decisions must be taken immediately. That is why Germany and France support Jose Manuel Barroso," Merkel said at a joint press conference with Sarkozy in Paris.
There is a "strong desire" in the newly-elected EU Parliament that the choice of a new EC head should not take the entire summer, she said.
"We will support the candidacy of Mr. Barroso, without ambiguity," Sarkozy said at a joint news conference at the Elysee presidential palace. But the support for the incumbent was not unconditional, Sarkozy added.
"Madame Merkel and I support Barroso," he said. "But we call on him before a second term to clarify, and in a way make formal, his position," the French president said.
Barroso must commit himself to a Europe that protects its citizens, Sarkozy said.
The Portuguese EC president has been criticized for waffling on a number of important issues.
French Green Party politician Daniel Cohn-Bendit, whose pro-environment coalition scored an impressive success in last Sunday's EU elections, said earlier this week he would try to cobble together a majority in the EU Parliament to "get rid of" Barroso.
EU leaders meeting are set to grant a second five-year term to Barroso, the only candidate for the top post, at their summit in Brussels next Thursday and Friday.
Barroso's mandate expires in October, but he is seeking a second term despite the European Union's struggle to reform and criticism of its response to the financial crisis.
Leaders pledge to press Lisbon's case
Sarkozy added that he would be prepared to travel to Ireland to help gather support for a referendum over the European Union's stalled Lisbon treaty.
"Mrs. Merkel and I will do everything we can to help the Irish make the choice for Lisbon," he told the joint news conference. "If it is of use, I would even be ready to travel to Ireland to support them," he said.
The two leaders also expressed their concern for the well-being of imprisoned Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. France and Germany are "very worried" about Suu Kyi, who has been put on trial by Myanmar's junta, the two said.
nda/AFP/ap/dpa
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar