New European Commission Welcomed

We congratulate the European Union on the assumption of office, today, of European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and his team of commissioners.

The United States government looks forward to working with President Barroso and his colleagues. The U.S.-EU relationship is vital to the prosperity and security of the world.

We will continue to work closely on the entire range of issues on the transatlantic agenda, including efforts to bring peace, stability and democracy to Iraq; to address regional crises in Africa and elsewhere; to confront the threat of terrorism; and to maintain our strong economic relationship.

# # #

2004/1270