European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso congratulated his predecessor Romano Prodi on Tuesday on the election "results".

In an email the EC sent to Xinhua, the European Union (EU) executive said Barroso made a phone call with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and opposition leader, Romano Prodi on Tuesday afternoon in the wake of the Italian general elections.

Barroso and the two leaders had exchanged views on "the situation, as the electoral results were being collected."

"If the current projections are confirmed, Romano Prodi's coalition will have the majority in both Houses of the Italian Parliament," the EC press release said.

"President Barroso congratulated Prodi on the results achieved by his coalition," said the press release.

"As a former President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi actively promoted the general European interest, and President Barroso expressed his confidence that he will continue to work in this direction if appointed for a second mandate as Italian Prime Minister," the EC said.

In the meantime, the EC branded Berlusconi as a leader who "has had a constructive and fruitful relationship" with Barroso.

"The President of the European Commission expressed his recognition of the excellent cooperation in recent years and of Silvio Berlusconi's support for the work of the (European) Commission," said the EC press release.

Source: Xinhua