Irish voters' approval of the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty shows Europe's response to the global economic crisis has been positive, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said today.

Barroso made his comments after Irish government officials declared victory in yesterday's referendum and the opposition Libertas group conceded defeat. EU aid has helped Ireland through the recession and national governments in the EU have poured money into their economies to stimulate them.

"It (support for the treaty) shows the value of European solidarity and I am really glad with the result we are receiving from Ireland," Barroso, who heads the EU executive, told reporters. "It shows the very positive response that Europe is bringing to the economic and financial crisis."