BRUSSELS, May 6 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso extended here on Sunday night his congratulations to Nicolas Sarkozy on his winning of presidential election in France.

    In a congratulating statement, Barroso said he was confident Sarkozy would help find an early solution to the EU's stalled institutional reform.

    "I know Nicolas Sarkozy well, and I know his determination to ensure France takes its full place on the European scene," he said.

    "I have every confidence that Nicolas Sarkozy, whose convictions I know and whose strong beliefs are known to all, will play a driving role in resolving the institutional question and in consolidating a political Europe," Barroso said.

    France is dubbed as one of the "engine" of the European Union (EU), but a French referendum two years ago vetoed the EU Constitution, leaving the EU on the verge of institutional crisis.

    The change of French leadership has thus been widely considered as a chance to inject new vigor to resolving the EU's institutional issue.

    Earlier on Sunday, Sarkozy declared in his acceptance speech that he is a life-long European. "Tonight France is back in Europe," he said.

    In response, Barroso said there could be no strong Europe without a European France.

    "I therefore look forward to working together to reinforce the EU in a spirit of openness, so that Europe does not turn in on itself but, bolstered by its values and its strengths, it can overcome the challenge of globalization," he added.