U.S. President George Bush has met with European Union leaders in Slovenia to discuss a broad range of issues, including Iran's nuclear program.

President Bush has said he wants to discuss joint action to tackle high energy costs, including the need to cut dependence on fossil fuels. He also plans to ask for European help in Afghanistan and to put more pressure on Iran to give up its nuclear program.

In a joint statement released during the talks, the leaders reaffirmed U.S. and EU commitments to promote open investment policies and resist protectionism. They noted the growth of government-controlled investment funds and urged their managers to observe transparent investment policies.

US President George W. Bush (L) shakes hands with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa after a bilateral meeting at Brdo Castle in Ljubljana, 10 Jun 2008

Ahead of the summit, Mr. Bush met with Slovenian President Danilo Turk and the country's prime minister, Janez Jansa, at Brdo Castle in Kranj.

Later in the day, Mr. Bush is to view a performance featuring Slovenia's world-famous Lipizzaner stallions. He then heads to Germany.

The president's visit there coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Marshall Plan, which provided U.S. reconstruction aid to Europe after World War II, and the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The U.S., British and French operation to bring much-needed supplies into the western half of the divided German city, which had been cut off by a Soviet blockade.