Logo Polskiego Radia

World leaders welcome Tusk as EU Council president

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 01.09.2014 08:59
World leaders have congratulated Polish prime minister Donald Tusk on being chosen as the next president of the European Council.

European
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy (C) and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (L) and Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini (R) at press conference at a Special Meeting of the European Council at EU Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 30 August 2014. EU leaders are expected to agree on key appointments to the bloc this evening, at a specially convened summit that is also due to focus on the escalating situation in Ukraine, amid calls to ratchet up sanctions. EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

Referring to the legacy of the Iron Curtain, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel said that “Poland and Donald Tusk have made a great contribution to overcoming the division of Europe.

“Personally, I am very happy that he will be the next president of the European council,” she said.

Merkel claimed that Polish-German relations have never been better, and that this is thanks in part “to Donald Tusk's activities as prime minister of Poland.”

Danish
Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt (L) and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (R) during a family picture session at a Special Meeting of the European Council at EU Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 30 August: photo - EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron enthused that Tusk appeared to be open to the British government's desire for EU reform.

“I'm delighted obviously with what Donald Tusk has said about the importance of reform in the EU and addressing the concern that Britain has in the EU,” he said.

“I look forward to working with him in the months and the years ahead,” he added.

While in Brussels for Saturday's EU summit, Tusk said that “no reasonable person can imagine the EU without the UK.

“Many of the suggestions put forward for EU reform are sensible, we can work together to eliminate any welfare abuse by EU migrants,” he reflected.

The White House has also released a statement congratulating both Tusk and Italian foreign minister Federica Mogherini of Italy, with the latter chosen as the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

“As we advance security and prosperity around the world, the United States has no more important partner than Europe,” the statement affirmed.

“We look forward to working closely with President Tusk and High Representative Mogherini, as well as Commission President Juncker and all of the new Commissioners.”

America's ambassador in Warsaw Stephen Mull congratulated Tusk on the embassy's Twitter page.

Later, in an interview with Radio Gdansk, Mull said that Tusk's election “is a sign for Ukrainains that the EU is with them.

“It is also a sign for Russia that the EU is committed to protecting Ukraine,” he added. (nh/pg)

Source: PAP/IAR/The Guardian/whitehouse.gov

Print
Copyright © Polskie Radio S.A About Us Contact Us