(ROME) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday backed a second mandate for European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso.

"Our candidate is Barroso," Berlusconi said at a joint news conference with the visiting former Portuguese prime minister, whose five-year term ends next year. Barroso "is the best man yesterday and today," he said.

"He's an intelligent and well-prepared man," said Berlusconi, who was bristling with criticism of the European Commission just weeks ago.

"There is much to change in ... the attitude of the European commissioners, who leave governments in difficulties with their declarations," he said at last month's EU summit his first since returning to power in April.

"Governments should not have to find themselves under the newspaper spotlight every three days thanks to their statements," Berlusconi said.

Barroso said later: "The commission is an independent institution, it is not a secretariat for member states."

Although Barroso has never said publicly that he would seek another term, his aides have hinted that he would not refuse a second mandate.

Barroso said the decision of who would lead European Union's executive arm was "a decision to be taken by the different political parties" represented in the European Parliament.

Although the parliament has a say in who leads the commission, it is up to EU leaders to ultimately decide.

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