Brussels summit
June 19, 2009
"Jose Manuel Barroso received unanimous support. They clearly support his candidature as head of the European Commission," said Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer, whose country holds the rotating six-month EU presidency, after chairing the talks with his counterparts.
Barroso's second term awaits confirmation by the European Parliament next month and must also receive a more formal endorsement by EU leaders.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has campaigned firmly for a quick approval of Barroso by the parliament.
"We cannot afford to have a long phase of uncertainty over several months," said Merkel.
But the coast is not yet completely clear for Barroso to begin his next tenure.
Socialists and Greens have already announced their opposition to the former Portuguese prime minister's second commission presidency, with conservatives and liberals lacking the necessary majority to re-elect him.
Thus begins the next round of political maneuvering.
av/Reuters/AFP
Editor: John Kluempers