New President of the European Council Donald Tusk (L) and outgoing President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy wave during a handover ceremony at EU Council Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 01 December 2014. Tusk has started his five-year mandate as President of the European Council. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
''I come here with a strong sense of purpose,'' Tusk said on Monday.
''In these difficult times Europe needs success,'' he continued, arguing that in his view, success would be dependent on four factors.
''First, protecting our fundamental values: solidarity, freedom, unity against the threats to the Union and its unity coming from both inside and outside.
''Today, not only are eurosceptics questioning the EU's value, the Union even has enemies.
''Politics has returned to Europe, history is back, and such times need leadership and political unity,'' he said, in an apparent allusion to Russia's stance on Ukraine.
''Second, we need ruthless determination to end the economic crisis,'' he argued.
Although Poland has not yet adopted the single currency, Tusk said that ''it is our responsibility to complete the genuine Economic Monetary Union.
''I take this task very seriously,'' he stressed.
''And we must remember that our common currency, the Euro, is our advantage, not our disadvantage,'' he said.
''Third, the European Union must be strong internationally. Europe has to secure its borders and support those in the neighbourhood who share our values.
''And fourth, the relations between Europe and the United States are the backbone of thecommunity of democracies,'' he argued.
''Both we and the Americans areresponsible for the future of our relations.
''The year ahead will be crucial.
''For all of these things, I will need your help at every step of the way,'' he concluded.
Outgoing president Herman Van Rompuy reflected that he is ''confident that the European Council is in good hands, in the hands of a man of experience and wisdom, a true European,'' claiming that ''Poland's favourite son'' is now at ''at the helm of the most important political institution of our union. (nh)
Source: PAP/european-council.europa.eu