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UK supports Polish PM for top EU job

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 27.08.2014 09:09
UK Prime Minister David Cameron is purportedly ready to back Polish counterpart Donald Tusk to become European Council president, as EU leaders prepare for a summit in Brussels on Saturday.

Prime
Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a cabinet meeting in Warsaw on Tuesday. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

David Cameron spoke with Donald Tusk on the phone on Tuesday.

"Our overall objective, as we approach these discussions at Saturday's European Council, will be making sure that we have a candidate that is willing to work with Britain to address our concerns in the coming years," a British government spokesman has told the Guardian newspaper.

Current president of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy is standing down from the post this autumn.

The Guardian reports that support for Tusk's candidacy would come in return for support for British reforms to the EU's welfare system and other issues.

"Prime minister Tusk was clear that he thinks there are a number of reforms that need to be made in the EU and that is an agenda where he wants to work with the UK and other countries,” the Downing Street spokesman said.

Donald Tusk's office is continuing to downplay any talk of his potential candidacy for the role, however, with a spokesperson saying that the idea is “flattering” but that he is busy with domestic politics.

Donald Tusk's spokeswoman insisted in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday that “has said many times that for him, the priority is Polish affairs.” (pg/nh)

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