EU leaders congratulated President Obama, saying they looked forward to continued co-operation with Washington during his second term.
In a joint statement, European Council president Herman Van Rompuy and EU Commission chief José Manuel Barroso said they shared America’s priority to create economic growth and jobs.
“The US is a key strategic partner of the EU and we look forward to continuing the close co-operation established with President Obama over these last four years, to further strengthening our bilateral ties and to jointly addressing global challenges, including in the fields of security and economy,” they said.
“We are also ready to continue our intense co-operation in foreign policy issues and in the promotion of our common values.”
The European People’s Party, Fine Gael’s European affiliate, said the American people had renewed their trust and confidence in Mr Obama.
“During the US election campaign, Europe and its economic difficulties was one of the central themes of the debate, so I sincerely hope that the new Obama administration will work closely with the leadership of the European Union in order to tackle issues of common economic concern,” said Wilfried Martens, president of the EPP.
Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal group in the European Parliament, said Republican leaders should row in behind Mr Obama’s push to tackle the economic crisis.
“While stagnation threatens the global economy, it would be in the interest of the US that the Republican majority in the House of Representatives grasp the outstretched hand of President Obama to revive growth and employment.”
Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen also sent congratulations. “The bond between Europe and North America, based upon the shared values on which our Alliance was founded over 60 years ago, remains as strong, and as important to the preservation of Euro-Atlantic peace and security as ever.” The Council of Europe, a body separate from the EU which promotes human rights, sent its congratulations.
