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Brown to meet Barroso in Brussels Brown calls for faster EU reform
(about 6 hours later)
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is meeting EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to discuss the global economy, climate change and security. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said economic reform within the European Union "must accelerate" if the 27-nation organisation is to prosper.
It is also expected they will talk about the prospect of an EU president being appointed, a role for which ex-premier Tony Blair has been tipped. He has also described the EU as being "essential to the success of Britain, and a Britain fully engaged in Europe is essential to the success of the EU".
Their three-hour meeting in Brussels will be followed by a news conference. Mr Brown spent three hours meeting European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels.
During his trip Mr Brown is also to hold discussions with sometime critic, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. He said the EU must "stand together" to be "a force for stability and justice".
'Sustainable world'
Mr Brown told a news conference in the Belgian capital: "We must focus on the issues that really matter to our citizens - prosperity and jobs, security and climate change."
He stressed: "We must accelerate economic reform to enable European citizens and businesses to compete."
He said he hoped Europe should lead the way in "building global prosperity", creating a "sustainable world", helping the reconstruction of fledgling nations and leading the fight against global poverty.
Despite speculation, Mr Brown said there was no discussion of whether former premier Tony Blair should become the EU's first president when the post is created in 2009.
In addition, aides said "very constructive" talks were also held on Thursday with sometime critic and EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.