Sarkozy, Merkel support Barroso for new EU term

France and Germany announced their support on Thursday for Jose Manuel Barroso in his bid for a second five-year term as President of the European Commission.

"Mrs. Merkel and I support the candidacy of Mr. Barroso unambiguously", President Nicolas Sarkozy said after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The leaders met before the June 18-19 EU summit to shore up their positions on the key post of European Commission President.

The European Parliament must formally approve the choice, which it could do in July when it convenes for the first time after Sunday's elections.

Mr. Barroso, 53, was a center-right Prime Minister in Portugal before being appointed the Commission's President in 2004.

Ms. Merkel and Mr. Sarkozy want more detail on Mr. Barroso's proposals for his priorities in an eventual second term.

Mr. Sarkozy also said that Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier was at the top of France's proposed list of candidates as possible new EU Commissioners.

Each of the 27 EU countries gets to lead one of the EU's commissions and Barnier, a member of France's majority UMP party, is known to have his eye on the agriculture commission. Mr. Barnier easily won election to the European Parliament in Sunday's vote.

Mr. Sarkozy indicated that France and Germany had "in principle'' agreed to support the other's candidate. (AP)