Poland’s Donald Tusk chosen as new head for European Council

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was elected president of the European Council at the EU summit on Saturday. He will replace Herman Van Rompuy as of December 1, 2014. The appointment of Donald Tusk is seen as a coming of age of Poland.

 “I come to Brussels from a country that strongly believes in a united Europe,” Tusk said after the appointment was announced. “I am aware that the EU's primary issues cannot disappear by December,” he added.

They include the crisis in the euro zone and I understand that this is not just an issue related to currency, but nevertheless to the issue of Europeans’ fundamental trust toward the EU.” Tusk additionally stressed that the EU would certainly carefully listen to the voice of the UK throughout his presidency.

He additionally stated that the EU will be able to assist nations such as Ukraine as long as it manages to agree on a common point of view.

The newly elected EU council head refused to state who he would see as his successor in Poland. He claimed he will probably manage to speak about Polish government issues early next week. EU leaders additionally selected Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Federica Mogherini for the position of high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. Reports saw her Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski as her primary competitor to the job.