Barroso congratulates Merkel on reelection

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso on Tuesday sent a message congratulating German Chancellor Angela Merkel on her reelection. "On my own behalf and on behalf of the entire European Commission, I am very pleased to offer my warmest congratulations on your reelection as German federal chancellor," said Barroso. "Your reelection constitutes both an endorsement of your past efforts and a signal of confidence for the coming years," he added. Barroso said Germany and the European Union jointly faced the challenge of pursuing the course of consolidation and reform. "We now have the great opportunity to truly put this crisis behind us by generating sustainable growth and at the same time giving the European Union and the eurozone in particular a credible and effective armoury against future risks," Barroso said. "Not least with an eye to the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament in May 2014 we will be sending out a clear signal on the side of responsibility and solidarity and against populism and irrationality," he added. Barroso said that the European Commission sees the German federal government at its side in all these efforts and was looking forward to constructive and fruitful cooperation with Merkel and her cabinet. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was reelected in a vote in the lower house of parliament on Tuesday for a third term. Her coalition government will be sworn into office to rule Europe's biggest economy for the next four years.