The Left in Europe demands a re-orientation of EU policies towards a social, peaceful and democratic Union. The social and ecological needs of the people must take priority over everything else, most notably over the interest in profits of a few. This must become the basic principle of all EU strategy and legislation. With Barroso as President of the European Commission the danger is that the new Commissioners will continue the policies that lead to the current crisis without tackling the social, economic and financial crisis.