Europe warms to Wolfowitz
 |  Wolfowitz defended himself as a man committed to helping the world's poor. |
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 Bush says Wolfowitz has "good experience" to lead the World Bank.
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BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European Commission says it is satisfied with commitments made by Paul Wolfowitz during talks in Brussels, and Germany said it expected EU states to back him as president of the World Bank.
Wolfowitz, who has been nominated by the U.S. for the post, was questioned by European Union officials on Wednesday.
Afterwards, European Commissioner Olli Rehn said he "was satisfied with everything he heard from Mr Wolfowitz concerning free trade and also on poverty reduction and development policy," a Commission spokeswoman told a news conference after the meeting.
German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul told reporters: "I expect that he will get the European and German support."
The World Bank board is due to choose a successor to veteran president James Wolfensohn on Thursday in Washington.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Wolfowitz defended himself as a man committed to helping the world's poor, saying he believed deeply in the work of the Washington-based bank.
"Helping people lift themselves out of poverty is truly a noble mission," he said.
His nomination was met with lukewarm support in Europe capitals, where officials have trouble reconciling Wolfowitz's history as an architect of the Iraq war with the needs of the developing world.
Critics have described him as having a reputation for unilateralism and lack of development experience.
To date, only Germany, Britain and Italy have publicly backed him.
Wolfowitz appeared a Wednesday's news conference with Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country holds the EU presidency.
Asked whether he understood that his reputation as a neo-conservative worried some members of the EU, Wolfowitz replied: "Of course I do."
"I hope as people get to know me better that I really do believe deeply in the mission of the bank," he said.
"It's important to emphasize that President Bush believes deeply in the mission of the bank ... he believes deeply in poverty reduction," he added.
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
