After his re-election, PM David Cameron is in a stronger position to negotiate the UK’s ties with the EU.
The opinion expressed was that of Portugal’s Jose Manuel Barroso, formerly the president of the European Commission for ten years preceeding the appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker.
Mr Barroso also believes that the EU will be receptive and make some compromises.
"There are better conditions for him to succeed," Barroso told BBC radio. "Prime Minister Cameron now has a renewed fresh legitimacy and I think now internally he has greater authority to make the case for Europe."
He said other EU leaders would be willing to "accommodate some concerns and points made by Britain." However, he warned that Cameron's specific idea to make EU migrants wait longer for welfare payments could be tricky to agree.
"My advice would be to discuss them (whatever proposals Britain puts forward) informally before with the institutions and with relevant partners," said Barroso. "I think the tone is very important."
