Polish PM named European Council pres.

European Union leaders have named Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to replace Herman van Rompuy as president of the European Council.

The announcement was made by Van Rompuy, the outgoing European Council leader, during a press conference in Brussels.

“I come from a country that deeply believes in a united Europe,” Tusk said.

Van Rompuy praised Tusk and “the determined and confident way he has steered Poland through the economic crisis, and managed to maintain steady economic growth.”

Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt also congratulated Tusk after the vote.

“He will be a good and result-oriented president of the European Council who will listen to member states. I look forward to co-operating with him,” Thorning-Schmidt said.

Last month, the 57-year-old Polish premier’s candidacy had been resisted by British Prime Minister David Cameron after the two had fallen out over EU labor migration and freedom of movement regulations. However, the two premiers patched up their differences last week.

“I understand many of David Cameron’s proposals concerning reforming the European Union and I think they are acceptable to many reasonable politicians in Europe, also those proposals that address the abuse of the free movement of persons within the EU,” Tusk said.

Tusk has been the prime minister of Poland since 2007.

The announcement comes a day after Italian Foreign Minister Fedrica Mogherini was named as the EU’s new foreign policy chief, replacing Catherine Ashton.

SZH/HMV