France and Germany drive EU reform

Germany and France say they are broadly agreed over the reforms needed in the European Union to smooth the way towards its enlargement.

The declaration was made by the German chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, after a day of talks with President Jacques Chirac of France in the German city of Mainz Among the reforms being planned are reducing veto rights for member countries, giving larger countries more voting rights, and lowering the number of commissioners.

The meeting came three weeks before France takes over the EU presidency. Germany and France also announced they would co-operate in setting up a conference between the European Union and the Balkan states.

On military issues, they are to co-operate in a European venture to launch a spy satellite, and to develop a European transport plane to be built by Airbus.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service