French fishermen are blockading ports and fuel depots in France in a campaign of protest at rising diesel costs.
President Sarkozy added that his country, which is about to hold the EU's rotating presidency from July, was not the only one having serious difficulties due to the high fuel costs, and on French radio he stated: "If the barrel continues to rise must we maintain a VAT rate that is proportional to the price in the same conditions?"
As well as the ongoing action by French fishermen, their counterparts in Portugal and Belgium are also said to be planning protests.
