European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso vowed Thursday to work to build an "ambitious Europe" over the next five years, as he made his pitch for a new term in the EU's most high-profile post. "Europe is facing stark choices in today's interdependent world. Either we work together to rise to the challenges. Or we condemn ourselves to irrelevance," he said. "I will redouble my efforts to make an ambitious Europe happen," he said, in a set of written guidelines on how the next commission would operate under his command. The former Portuguese premier said his vision of Europe "puts people at the heart of the policy agenda and projects European values and interests in the world." Barroso, 53, is the only publicly-declared candidate for the top EU post. He has been endorsed by European Union leaders, but he must also receive the backing of the new European parliament. He has been criticised for his commission's slow reaction to the financial crisis last year, so his endorsement by the assembly, freshly elected in June and keen to flex its political muscle, cannot be taken for granted. Addressing the crisis, which sent Europe deep into recession, Barroso said it was important to ensure that the 27-nation EU would develop a "more ethical, robust and responsible financial system."