081106- Leaders Congratulate Obama

Leaders Congratulate Obama

Worth staying up all night for.

In Germany, Democrats Abroad members saw Barack Obama elected President of the United States.

Across Europe, the continent's leaders began to send Obama their congratulations.

Many Europeans have been hoping that transatlantic relations would improve with Obama in the White House.

That's a view echoed by the European Union's policy chief, Javier Solana:

SOUNDBITE: Javier Solana, EU Foreign Policy Chief, saying (English):

"Many problems we have on the table, and I very much hope that we will be able to do it together, find a solution to them, together between the European Union and the United States. The European Union is willing, the European Union is ready."

Barack Obama's popularity in Europe was evident during his summer tour of the continent.

Around 200,000 people came to listen to him speak in the German capital.

At the time, he also met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She says she wants to build on the discussions begun in the summer:

SOUNDBITE: Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, saying (German):

"We will be able to continue our talk we started in summer and based on deep friendship and partnership between Germany and the United States of America we will be able to solve the current problems, I am convinced of that."

The election campaign was watched closely in Berlin, Paris and London, especially given the current global financial turmoil.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he and Obama have already been discussing economic problems:

SOUNDBITE: British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, saying (English):

"I believe that over the next few months and years we can work together, first of all to sort out the economic problems that exist, secondly to build stronger economies for the future and thirdly to sort out some of the world problems, for example, in the Middle East."

While some European leaders are unsure what Obama's priorities will be when he moves into the White House in January, there's some confidence he'll bring what many see as a welcome shift in U.S. foreign policy.

Joanna Partridge, Reuters