European Commission President Romano Prodi Wednesday evening congratulated US President George W.Bush on his re-election.

"My warm congratulations to President Bush on his re-election after a difficult ballot whose outcome was far from sure," said Prodi's statement which was e-mailed to Brussels-based journalists.

"I hope his second term will see the United States and the whole world enjoy the political stabilization and the guarantee of collective security we have all done our utmost to ensure," Prodi said.

"Europe will continue to work to strengthen its bonds of friendship and cooperation with the United States. Those bonds, which have never been called into question, are vital to maintaining peace in the world on the basis of multilaterally shared principles and values," he added.