British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has given strong public backing to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso's bid for a second term of office.
Mr Barroso's five-year term as Commission President ends later this year and he is hoping to secure reappointment when EU leaders meet at a summit in Brussels in June.
The former Prime Minister of Portugal has already won public expressions of support from French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
The backing of Mr Brown makes the prospect of a second term all the more likely.
At a press conference following talks with Mr Barroso in 10 Downing Street this morning, Mr Brown said: 'He has done an excellent job as President of the European Commission.
'He has been building a stronger, fairer and more prosperous Europe and has led the way on climate change.
'He has been building consensus among European leaders on the challenges that face us collectively.
'I want to make it absolutely clear that we will support him not only as the current President of the European Commission but for election as the next President of the European Commission.'
The President of the Commission is effectively appointed by the leaders of the 27 member states meeting in the European Council, though its decision must be endorsed by a vote of the European Parliament.
Mr Barroso's first term concludes at the end of October.
