José Durão Barroso has been confirmed as the new president of the European Commission.

The former Portuguese prime minister took 58 per cent - 413 of 708 - of the votes cast by MEPs in a secret ballot.

There was opposition from a coalition of Socialists, Greens and left-wingers angered by his support for the Iraq war.

But Barroso insisted that as Commission president he would fight Europe’s corner on the international stage.

"I am a European and proud of it," he said. "I shall defend the common European interest, and I shall not let Europe be treated as a second-rate power in any relationship."

And after disagreements within Europe over Iraq and the new constitution, Barroso pledged to smooth over any remaining disagreements.

"I see myself as someone who can build bridges," he said.

But as the new Commission chief was being confirmed on Thursday, Tony Blair was warning against any Brussels-led attempt to remove the UK's budget rebate.

The prime minister warned that without the rebate British contributions "would be completely unfair".

"The rebate is there for a very good reason," Blair said.

"The Commission periodically come and say these things, but the reasons for it remain and that is why the rebate remains."