BRUSSELS, June 29 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Friday it hoped the European Union would find a suitable successor for International Monetary Fund chief Rodrigo Rato, who announced his resignation on Thursday.

Rato's surprise departure well before his term ends prompted calls for the search for his replacement to reach beyond Europe, which has provided all the IMF's leaders since the Fund's inception after World War Two in 1945.

But a spokeswoman for European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia told a news conference: "We hope that the EU will identify a suitable successor candidate in due time so as to ensure the important reform process that has been started at the IMF will be taken to a good port and at a good time."

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