The European Parliament in Strasbourg has voted to confirm the appointment of the former Portuguese Prime Minister, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, as the next President of the European Commission.
The 48-year-old centre-right leader won more than 400 votes out of just over 700 cast, and will take up the post on 1 November.
In a speech at the European Parliament yesterday, Mr Barroso said he wanted to open a new chapter of European integration as well as to tackle 'Euro-apathy'.
