By Timothy Heritage
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders will back Jose Manuel Barroso's bid for a new term as European Commission president at a two-day summit starting Thursday, opting for continuity at a time of economic crisis.
But although he is the only declared candidate to head the EU's executive for the next five years, the former Portuguese prime minister still has several hurdles to overcome before he can be re-appointed, and has not yet set out his program.
EU leaders are expected to give Barroso, a conservative, their political support at the Brussels summit but are unlikely to give him a formal, legally-binding endorsement until he has won the approval of the European Parliament.
This is partly because of legal concerns and a desire not to upset the assembly by presenting it with a fait accompli. But it also reflects the lack of alternatives and enthusiasm over a candidate regarded by critics as wanting ideas and inspiration.
"The heads of state and government are expected to back Mr Barroso," said an official representing the EU presidency, which Sweden takes over from the Czech Republic on July 1 and will hold until the end of this year.
Diplomats said Sweden and the Czech Republic would consult with parliament on Barroso's candidacy. If they were confident he could secure a majority, EU leaders would then give him full endorsement allowing the assembly to vote him in on July 15.
Barroso, 53, could still face another vote of approval in the assembly if the EU in the next few months completes ratification of a treaty setting out new rules for appointing the president and his team -- the European Commission.
One senior EU diplomat acknowledged Barroso's bid caused little enthusiasm among politicians or voters, many of whom say the EU is out of touch with ordinary people, but saw no reason to oppose him.
"This would be a vote for continuity and he has taken a strong position on reform of financial regulations and climate change," the diplomat said.
SETTING OUT PLANS
Barroso's candidacy is one of the main issues at a summit that will also discuss financial regulatory reforms, climate change and legal guarantees to help the Irish government win a referendum on the Lisbon treaty reforming EU institutions.
He will outline his plans during the summit and then in the European Parliament next month.
Greens and Socialists hope to prevent his re-appointment but his centre-right allies strengthened their grip on the assembly in an election this month which also signalled voters' trust in conservatives to combat the economic crisis.
The Commission has far-reaching regulatory powers and proposes much of the EU's legislation. The president decides its policy priorities and chooses the other Commission members.
Signalling some of his priorities in a letter to EU leaders Tuesday, Barroso underlined the need to lead Europe out of economic crisis, rebuild the EU's financial and supervisory system, protect jobs, combat climate change and help secure approval of the Lisbon reform treaty in Ireland.
"We acted immediately to avert disaster in the banking sector last autumn," he said in a speech Tuesday, defending his performance during the economic crisis.
Critics say the EU was slow to respond to the crisis before agreeing on a fiscal stimulus plan and say it succumbed to pressure from EU capitals to relax state aid and budget rules.
Left-wing rivals also accuse him of espousing free markets at the expense of social concerns.
Supporters say Barroso did what he could in the crisis to shepherd sometimes reluctant governments into a common EU line and prevent a worse outbreak of "economic nationalism" among member states seeking to save their own economy.
(Additional reporting by Mark John, Julien Toyer, Ilona Wissenbach and Darren Ennis; Editing by Jon Boyle)
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