The European Commission said today it was satisfied with commitments made by US nominee Paul Wolfowitz in Brussels talks and Germany said it expected EU states to back him as president of the World Bank.
European Commissioner Olli Rehn "was satisfied with everything he heard from Mr Wolfowitz concerning free trade and also on poverty reduction and development policy," a Commission spokeswoman told a news conference after the meeting.
German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul told reporters: "I expect that he will get the European and German support."
The World Bank board is due to choose a successor to veteran president James Wolfensohn tomorrow in Washington.