Sarkozy leads Europe's congratulations

French President Nicolas Sarkozy led European congratulations to Barack Obama today, hailing his “brilliant victory” in winning the White House.

Amid hopes of a fresh EU-US relationship under a new leadership in Washington, President Sarkozy said president-elect Obama’s victory raised great hopes across Europe in the midst of major global challenges.

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso spoke of forging a “new deal for a new world”, and the German leader of the Socialists in the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, said it was time for a “new dawn” in EU-US relations.

Mr Obama raised hopes in July of healing the bitter rifts caused across Europe by the US-led Iraq war.

In a speech in Berlin he acknowledged that the US and Europe had drifted apart and “forgotten our shared destiny”.

He declared: “The burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together.”

That appeal for a renewed transatlantic partnership was played back to him today amid cross-party support for the historic election victory.

President Sarkozy delivered a message of warm congratulations, and continued: “Your brilliant victory rewards a tireless commitment to serve the American people.

“It also crowns an exceptional campaign whose inspiration and exaltation have proved to the entire world the vitality of American democracy.

“By choosing you, the American people have chosen change, openness and optimism. At a time when all of us must face huge challenges together, your election raises great hope in France, in Europe and elsewhere in the world.”

Mr Barroso issued a statement declaring: “On behalf of the European Commission and on my own behalf, I would like to congratulate Senator Obama on becoming the 44th president of the United States of America.

“This is a time for a renewed commitment between Europe and the United States of America.

“We need to change the current crisis into a new opportunity. We need a new deal for a new world. I sincerely hope that with the leadership of President Obama, the United States of America will join forces with Europe to drive this new deal. For the benefit of our societies, for the benefit of the world.”

Mr Schulz said: “It is time for a new dawn in relations between our two continents. We need more than ever to work together to tackle problems such as economic recession and the creation of a new world financial order.

“The tension and division caused by the Bush regime’s policy on such important global issues as international stability and climate change must be relegated to the past.

“I appeal to the new president to make sure that Europe is on the top of his in-tray. We must start working together from day one – and together we will find the solutions the world now urgently needs.”

Mr Schulz added: “The new president should make an immediate symbolic gesture by announcing the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre and the abandonment of the missile installations planned in Poland and the Czech Republic.”