Jose Manuel Barroso made the comments while addressing the European Parliament, asking MEPs to elect him to a second term in office.
Mr Barroso told the parliament that there needed to be a much more integrated approach to the economic, social and environmental strands of European policies.
He also announced that he intended to create three new roles in the next European Commission dealing with Justice; Fundamental Rights and Civil Liberties; Internal Affairs and Migration; and a Commissioner for Climate Action.
Turning to the economic crisis, he said that it was his intention to use all of the instruments at his disposal to help new EU member states with serious budgetary constraints back on the road to recovery.
A sizeable number of MEPS are reluctant to give the Commission President a second term.
However, after his speech today, it appeared that he had clinched the support of around 400 of the 736 deputies, more than enough to win a new five-year mandate.
Voting will take place tomorrow.
His critics have said that Mr Barroso has not done enough to deal with the financial crisis and rising European unemployment.
He has also been criticised for being too influenced by the larger EU member states.
To secure re-election the President of the Commission needs a simple majority of the 736 MEPs.
He has the backing of the European Peoples Party, but is likely to be opposed by the Greens and the United European left.
The Socialists and Liberals also have misgivings.
It is thought likely that Mr Barroso will win the backing of a majority of MEPs, but failure to secure a convincing margin of victory could weaken both his authority and credibility.
