In a meeting that advocates of European union hope will help repair damaged relations, French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur arrives Thursday for talks with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

Close cooperation between the European Community's two largest countries has long been considered essential for taking steps toward greater European unity.

But in recent months, France has angered Germany by refusing to ditch protectionist measures that constitute a stumbling block to a world trade agreement. And the Bundesbank's failure to cut interest rates to help spur Europe's recession-bound economies has upset France and nearly destroyed the European Monetary System.