Barroso calls for more effective multilaterism in addressing global security con

MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 7 -- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Saturday called for a more effective multilateralism to address the global security threats.

"To meet today's global security threats, the European Security Strategy calls for a more effective multilateralism as the only way forward," said Barroso at the luncheon at the 45th Munich Security Council, which focuses on major global and regional security concerns.

While EU cooperation with the United Nations, NATO and the United States are essential for a more effective multilateralism, Barroso said that "it is time to encourage our other partners to see that they too have an interest in, and responsibility for, the global community because that is the only way we can consolidate and strengthen a stable, multilateral world, governed by internationally-agreed rules."

Meanwhile, Barroso said that the EU must also maintain its citizens' support for its global engagement.

"We must also maintain our citizens' support for this global engagement. This is even more important in times of economic crisis, because the temptation to retreat into populism and protectionism is strong," said Barroso, who was the first European Commission president to speak at the Munich Security Conference.

He said that in a globalized economy, economic governance must also be global.

"November's G20 Summit in Washington was an encouraging start. Now we face the tough task of turning words into action. Expectations are high for the next summit in London on April 2. The world needs a new financial order, and our aim must be to achieve nothing less," he said. ¡¡