After his meeting with 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso made the following statement:

"I would like to express the EU's recognition for the successful work of Professor Yunus, whose tireless commitment deserves our profound respect. Strengthening social business and promoting innovative methods of accessible finance is not only a matter of justice. It is also and a concrete way to help the poorest of the poor and a smart investment in our shared future. The European Commission will therefore continue its substantial aid to micro-credit projects across the globe."