"The EU is essential to the success of Britain and a Britain fully engaged in Europe is essential to the success of the EU," Brown told journalists after the meeting with Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on 21 February.
"I have no doubt that in this time of global uncertainty we should not ever be throwing into question the stability of Britain's relationship with the EU," Brown pointed out, trying to charm EU officials, many of whom view him with suspicion, particularly since he turned up late for the official signing ceremony of the Lisbon Treaty last December (EurActiv 12/12/07).
The prime minister identified "four major goals" for the EU: global prosperity and an environmentally sustainable planet, as well as leading the world on stability and reconstruction and in its fight against poverty.
Brown urged EU leaders to move on from the institutional debate and address issues that "really matter to our citizens" such as security, climate change and prosperity and jobs.
"We must accelerate economic reform to enable European citizens and businesses to compete," he said.
Prime Minister Brown also called for the creation of an independent European carbon bank to improve the functioning of the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) , as well as an agreement on a World Bank multilateral fund to help developing countries to transform into low-carbon economies.
Barroso praised Brown for being "at the forefront of the pressure for fairer prices and more competition in the internal energy market," adding that "his support for EU action on climate change has been instrumental in getting us to this point".
The prime minister also reiterated his support for Tony Blair as a potential candidate for the new post of president of the European Council. Blair is also backed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel and others are less enthusiastic.
Brown also held "very constructive" face-to face talks, for the first in years, with EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. Relations between the two had been fraught since they battled for leadership of the Labour Party in 1994, but they now share similar views on free trade and globalisation.
"The EU must throw its weight behind achieving a world trade agreement and President Barroso and me are at one supporting Commissioner Mandelson in his efforts to push world trade talks forward," Brown said.
His visit came seven months after taking office, whereas German Chancellor Angela Merkel and France's President Nicolas Sarkozy made their inaugural visit within days of taking office.
Britain's ambivalent relationship with the EU was also echoed by UK Foreign Minister David Miliband, speaking at the House of Commons on 20 February.
Although he acknowledged that the Lisbon treaty would strengthen British foreign policy, he also made clear that his country would continue to decide its own foreign policy and said that "only where we agree with others can there be a common European role in helping to deliver it".
Brown decided that the new treaty would be ratified in parliament, rejecting the risky option of a referendum (EurActiv 21/01/08).
