European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso declared his candidacy for a second five-year term today after electoral gains for his centre-right allies strengthened his bid.
Mr Barroso, a Portuguese conservative, has headed the EU's executive since 2004 and would represent stability and continuity at a time of economic crisis although the European Union's response to the financial turmoil has been criticised.
Mr Barroso said he was accepting a proposal to seek a new term from the Czech Republic, which holds the EU's six-month rotating presidency and will be in charge of a summit next week at which he will seek the endorsement of all EU leaders.
"I am ... honoured that the President of the European Council has today asked me if he can put forward my name for a second mandate," Mr Barroso told a news conference with Czech prime minister Jan Fischer. "I have agreed to this request."
Mr Fischer will now consult other national leaders to try to secure backing for Mr Barroso at the June 18-19th summit in Brussels.
Chancellor Angela Merkel told a news conference in Berlin that Germany had "always said that he has our support".
French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner said in Paris: "I have trouble imagining that the Council in its current make-up could decide on any candidate other than the current one, that is Mr Barroso."
Mr Barroso (53) a former prime minister of Portugal whose term as Commission president ends in November, also won the backing of Sweden, which takes over the EU presidency on July 1st.
Mr Barroso is the first person to declare his candidacy and is expected to win a second term, especially after centre-right parties triumphed in a European Parliament election. The assembly has the final say in appointing the president.
The Commission president is the most prominent EU position although power is shared with the European Parliament and the Council of EU heads of state and government, which is presided over by each of the 27 member countries in turn.
The European Commission is the EU's executive, has far-reaching regulatory powers and proposes much of the EU's legislation. The president decides its policy priorities and chooses the other 26 members of the Commission.
Mr Barroso has been a strong proponent of the EU's single market during a term that has included the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and French and Dutch voters' rejection of the EU's planned constitution.
He said the European Parliament election had allowed him to clarify his position on the possibility of a new term.
Although a record-low turnout highlighted voter apathy and dissatisfaction, the election strengthened the centre-right's grip on the assembly and punished several left-wing national governments over economic problems or domestic crises.
Signalling his priorities, Mr Barroso said: "Europeans want a stable economy and a new financial system. Europeans want job security and help for those that are unemployed."
"They want economic recovery that is smarter and greener and sustainable. They want a Europe that safeguards fundamental freedoms and security at the same time," he said.
Centre-right Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said it was important to establish who would lead the Commission as soon as possible at a time of crisis.
"I favour giving a new Commission president a full mandate now directly because I see a lot of challenges for the Swedish (Council) presidency," Mr Reinfeldt told reporters in Brussels.
Reuters