Brussels - The head of the European Union's executive body on Wednesday congratulated Barack Obama on his victory in the United States presidential election and called on him to work with the EU to shape a "new deal for a new world".

"This is a time for a renewed commitment between Europe and the US. I want to assure Senator Obama of the support of the European Commission and of my personal support in forging this renewed commitment to face together the many challenges ahead of us," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said.

"We need a new deal for a new world. I sincerely hope that with the leadership of President Obama, the US will join forces with Europe to drive this new deal - for the benefit of our societies, for the benefit of the world," he said in a statement.

Ahead of Tuesday's election, politicians across Europe had expressed the hope that the successor to US President George W Bush - whether Obama or his rival, John McCain - would abandon Bush's unilateral stance in favour of more cooperation with the EU.

They hope, in particular, for cooperation on financial reform, climate change and the reform of global institutions such as the United Nations and Group of Eight leading industrial nations.