British foreign secretary Jack Straw said the UK will "work hard" during its EU presidency starting on Friday to resolve a row over the bloc's spending plans. "We recognize our responsibilities as the EU presidency and will work hard to reach agreement on future financing by the end of the year," Straw told parliament. EU leaders's talks on EU spending for 2007-13 collapsed amid acrimony earlier this month when Britain refused to give up its budget rebate unless France agreed to changes to the bloc's generous farm subsidy scheme. Straw also said the UK remains "strongly committed" to Turkey's entry to the EU.