Valedictory speech by President Barroso, Strasbourg
On Tuesday afternoon President Barroso gave a valedictory speech at the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg, as his second term of office draws to a close.
President Barroso set out the key role the European Commission has played during the 2004-2014 decade to keep Europe united and open and make it stronger.
President Barroso said: "When I leave this office, with all my colleagues at the Commission, I can tell you that we have not achieved everything we could, or everything we would have liked to have achieved, but I think we have worked with the right conscience, putting the global interest of the European Union above specific interests. And I believe that now there are conditions to continue to do work for a united, open and stronger Europe."