Brussels, 16/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - At the press conference following the meeting of the Conference of the Presidents of the political groups of the European Parliament with the Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Balkenende welcomed in José Manuel Durao Barroso "a man who is not afraid to make difficult decisions". Mr Barroso also received the support of the outgoing President of the EP, the Irishman Pat Cox, who said: "If I could vote, I'd vote for him".