Handover ceremony with the outgoing President Herman Van Rompuy and the new President Donald Tusk
Today the handover ceremony between the outgoing President of Europe Herman Van Rompuy and the new President Donald Tusk took place.
Herman Van Rompuy in his speech said: ”It is a president coming from a country that, 25 years and a few weeks ago, was separated from the Union by the Iron Curtain. Now the favourite son of Poland is at the helm of the most important political institution of our Union. It really is a special moment. […] I am confident that the European Council is in good hands, in the hands of a man of experience and wisdom, a true European, an open mind and an open heart.”
Donald Tusk stressed out the importance of success of Europe. He mentioned four priorities:
1. Protecting main values, such as solidarity, freedom, unity against the threats to the Union.
2. Determination to end economic crisis.
3. The European Union must be strong internationally
4. The relations between Europe and the United States of America are the backbone of the community of the democracies.
You can find the video of the ceremony and the speeches here:
http://www.european-council.europa.eu/the-president
The Speech of Donald Tusk can be found here:
The Speech of Herman Van Rompuy can be found here:
Sources and Photo: http://www.european-council.europa.eu/the-president