EU economy bouncing back stronger than ever: Barroso

THE economy of the European Union is slowly on the mend, its growth model more sustainable than ever before, and its global trade picture never as robust as now, according to its top official.

"We have managed to hold our own in the face of strong competition from emerging economies," European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, the top official of the EU executive branch, enthused.

He was speaking to a business audience here last Friday evening shortly after he jointly launched the negotiations in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping to finalise an investment treaty.