Europe hails Obama’s election as new US president

"More than ever, Europe has followed avidly the US election campaign [...] above all because Europe needs an America fully engaged in dialogue and cooperation," said the French Presidency of the EU in a statement. "The European Union sees in this election the promise of a reinforced transatlantic partnership," it added.

José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, pledged his "personal support" for Obama in forging a "renewed commitment" to face challenges common to Europe and the United States. He referred in particular to the economic downturn caused by the financial crisis, which started with the collapse of the US housing market.

"We need to change the current crisis into a new opportunity," Barroso said. "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."

In a letter to the new president, released to the public by the Elysée, French President Nicolas Sarkozy praised Obama's "exceptional" campaign and the "vitality of American democracy". "In choosing you," said Sarkozy, "the American people have chosen change, openness and optimism".

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown also hailed Obama's "inspirational campaign" and the "progressive values" that had energised American politics. "I know Barack Obama," said Brown, describing their many shared values, adding that "we both have determination to show that government can act to help people fairly through these difficult times facing the global economy".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was convinded that the US and Europe "will jointly address new threats and risks in a close relationship built upon mutual trust". She added that her government "is constantly aware of the importance and values of the trans-Atlantic partnership for our common future."

British Conservative opposition leader David Cameron, tellingly, described Obama as the first in a "new generation" of world leaders, adding that "in these difficult times, people everywhere are crying out for change".

In the European Parliament, the centre-right EPP-ED group, the largest political group in the Assembly, said it hoped for "a renewal of EU-US partnership" when Obama takes over the Presidency in January next year. EPP-ED chairman Joseph Daul MEP hailed a campaign marked by "dignity" and "respect for others" and called on Europe "never to forget its debt" to the United States: "If we are able to live in freedom, if we have been able to ensure peace on our continent for 60 years, it is thanks to the sacrifices of many Americans," Daul said.

Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament said the US election had "proved once again the extraordinarily capacity for renewal which has so often been evident at difficult moments in American history". He said he looked forward to a "fresh start to EU-US relations, putting them on a stronger and more vibrant footing" and expected partners on both sides of the Atlantic to "work together" on global issues such as climate change.

Martin Schulz, leader of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, appealed to the incoming US president to put in place a reform programme that would renew US relations with the EU. "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."

Graham Watson, leader of the liberal group in Parliament (ALDE) gave "three cheers" to Barack Obama for his "well-deserved victory". However, Watson also sounded a note of caution about possible over-expectations placed on Obama. "As a candidate, Barack Obama promised to heal the divisions within America and between America and others in the international community: as President his challenge is to make good on those fine words".

The Greens welcomed Obama’s election as bringing "a new dawn for America and the world" after "the era of American cowboys" represented by the Bush Administration. Monica Frassoni, co-president of the Greens said: "The world faces an uncertain economic and environmental future with problems that cannot be solved by one person alone. But we can at last hope that the fear and scaremongering is over and look forward to a new age of positive thinking on security and defence, on climate change and for social justice."

Henry Louis Gates Jr., a Harvard scholar of African-American history, said the election rivalled the day in 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and the day 101 years later when the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. "There's never been a moment like this in our lifetime, ever," Gates said.