Barroso, Jose Manuel Durao << bahr ROH zoo, joo ZEH muhn WEHL doo ROH >> (1956-…), a Portuguese political leader, was president of the European Commission from 2004 until 2014. He previously served as prime minister of Portugal from 2002 to 2004.
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union (EU), an organization of European countries that promotes economic and political cooperation among its members. As Commission president, Barroso concentrated on the streamlining and enforcement of EU policies. He has encouraged EU leaders to focus on economic growth and job creation.
Jose Manuel Durao Barroso was born in Lisbon on March 23, 1956. He earned a degree in law from the University of Lisbon and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Geneva.
In 1980, Barroso joined Portugal’s center-right Social Democratic Party. From 1985 to 1995, he served in the Portuguese parliament and held various ministerial positions. Barroso was named leader of his party in 1999 and became prime minister in 2002. As prime minister, Barroso worked to cut the Portuguese budget deficit to meet the requirements of the country’s membership in the European Economic and Monetary Union, a group of countries that use the euro as their single currency. Barroso made the controversial move of supporting the United States-led war in Iraq, which began in 2003.
