EC chief Barroso meets new Czech PM

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Wednesday met with the newly appointed Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer, whose caretaker cabinet is due to take over the Czech EU presidency in May. Although the cabinet line-up has not yet been officially confirmed, the hot candidate for foreign minister Jan Kohout was also present at the talks. Mr. Barroso said the European Commission fully supported the Czech EU presidency and expressed the hope that the new cabinet would effect a smooth transition. The Fischer caretaker government is due to take over on May 9 and should rule the country until early elections in October.