European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso has said he will stand for a second term as head of the EU's executive. 

Barroso, one-time Conservative prime minister of Portugal, told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday that he had accepted a request to run for another term at the top of the body charged with regulating and proposing EU legislation.

 

He said he was "honoured that the President of the European Council has today asked me if he can put forward my name for a second mandate," adding that he had agreed to the request.

 

The Commission chief made his announcement on the back of talks with leaders from Sweden and the Czech Republic, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency.