Mr José Manuel Barroso, European Commission president, yesterday set out a business-focused five-year plan for Europe, short of "big ideas", but promising to deliver results.

Mr Barroso's mission statement sets out a pragmatic liberal reform agenda for Europe during his term, putting the emphasis on stronger growth and job creation.

In place of the dreamy European visions of Romano Prodi, his Italian predecessor, is a blunt admission that "feelings of indifference to the European idea are widespread".

The former centre-right prime minister of Portugal says Europe has had plenty of big ideas, but that citizens are waiting for the 25-member bloc to "release Europe's enormous untapped potential".

"The priority should be to bring to fruition the grand projects that have been launched," he says in the document Europe 2010: A Partnership for European Renewal.

Mr Barroso maps out ambitious plans in two of the EU's "growth areas": increased co-operation in home affairs and in beefing up Europe's presence on the world stage.

Presenting his plans to the European parliament, the new Commission president said the EU could not deliver unless it was given the money to do so, a warning shot to countries like Germany, Britain and France, which want tight curbs on its next budget.

In areas where the Commission can act, Mr Barroso proposes making it easier to start a business in Europe; a common approach on corporate governance; trade-promoting customs rules, and progress on opening up the single market, particularly in services.

There is also stress on deregulation and the need for increased research investment - a priority for the next seven-year EU budget starting in 2007.

Mr Barosso pledged to improve the EU's communications work and to tackle the fraud and waste that undermine public trust. - (Financial Times Service)