BRUSSELS (EJP)---The European Parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the composition of the new European Commission under its Portuguese President Jose Manuel Barroso.

MEPs at a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, voted 488 to 137 in favour of the 26-person team put forward by Barroso who had to replace one of his original nominees –from Bulgaria - last month after the parliament showed opposition.

Following the vote, the Commission, which is responsible for proposing and enforcing EU laws across the 27 member states, formally begins its five-year mandate at midnight on Tuesday, a Commission spokesman said.

Barroso declared he will work for "a successful exit" from the economic crisis and urged EU governments to coordinate their economic policies better.

"The broad priorities are clear: making a successful exit from the crisis; leading on climate action and energy efficiency; boosting new sources of growth and social cohesion to renew our social market economy," he said.

'2020 strategy'

The new European Commission is taking office in a tough economic climate, with the 16-country euro zone facing its hardest test since the single currency came into being in 1999.

Among the high-profile commissioners are Finland’s Olli Rehn (economic affairs),  Spain’s Joaquin Almunia (competition) and France’s Michel Barnier (internal market).

The new Commission will be the second headed by Barroso, who received backing from EU leaders for another term last June and won support from the parliament for the job in September.

EU leaders led by the new EU Council permanent president Herman Van Rompuy will discuss on Thursday in Brussels a new 10-year plan for boosting economic growth and making the EU more competitive called the “2020 Strategy”.