Donald Tusk takes over as European Council president

Former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk officially took over as president of the EU’s European Council on Monday. At 11 a.m. he took part in a handover ceremony with outgoing President Herman van Rompuy. “In these difficult times, Europe needs success,” Tusk said in his inaugural speech. He named four priorities protecting fundamental values, “ruthless determination” to end the economic crisis, international strength and EU-US relations, the “backbone of the community of democracies.” Tusk praised his predecessor for leading Europe “out of the storm.” It is not easy to take over after such leadership, he said.