European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso urged the European Parliament today to give him a strong mandate for a second five-year term to guide Europe out of economic crisis and increase its global clout.
Mr Barroso, the only candidate, has the backing of all European Union member states and is widely expected to secure the simple majority he needs for a new term in a vote at the EU assembly tomorrow.
But he wants to win by a wide margin to avoid questions about his legitimacy that could undermine the EU executive's ability to push through reforms such as tightening financial regulation to prevent a repeat of the economic crisis.
"If you want a strong Commission, that stands up sometimes to member states, that stands up to national egoisms, you should give the Commission the strong support it takes (to do so)," Mr Barroso (53), told the assembly in Strasbourg.
"I think it's a moment of truth for Europe ... If we don't act together, Europe risks being marginalised."
As head of the EU executive, the Commission president represents 27 countries and almost 500 million people.
The Commission includes a representative of each member state under the current rules, has important powers to shape EU laws and policy, controls a large budget and is a powerful regulatory authority.
Mr Barroso, a Portuguese former prime minister who has led the Commission since 2004, set out a programme this month under which he would try to increase the EU's influence in the world and steer Europe out of economic crisis.
Brandishing the document while addressing parliament, he said his programme would also take account of the criticisms deputies made when he met parliamentary groups last week to try to win their backing, including by consulting parliament more.
He said he planned to create a number of new Commission posts and that the issue of excessive bonuses at financial firms needed urgent action.
The Socialist, Green and Liberal leaders repeated their criticisms after Mr Barroso addressed the assembly, but made clear they were resigned to him winning another term in the 736-seat chamber, where the centre-right is the major force."We need a
real change of direction in the EU and that is what we will measure you against," said Socialist leader Martin Schulz.
Supporters say Europe needs a leader of Mr Barroso's stature and experience to help it through the economic crisis and that failure to win a strong mandate would undermine the EU's work. A new term for Mr Barroso represents continuity, they argue.
Opponents say he was slow to tackle the economic crisis and that his programme lacks ambition. They say he has not done enough in his first five-year term to justify a new mandate and has not stood up to large member states enough.
If he does not secure a new mandate, the EU would have to scramble to find a compromise candidate, which would further complicate decision-making for some time at the top of the EU.
Without a big majority, his legitimacy could also be in question because he would need stronger support under new voting rules if the Lisbon Treaty is backed by Irish voters in a referendum on October 2nd and comes into force.