Pools EU-voorzitterschap verwacht goede samenwerking met Van Rompuy (en)

Following the meeting with Herman Van Rompuy i, the President of the European Council, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk i declared that the 6-month Polish presidency would be conducted under the banner of good cooperation. He also said that a compromise over the next year’s EU budget had been reached.

“Today, we have both confirmed our will to continue good and effective cooperation based on friendly institutional and personal relations”, remarked Donald Tusk. He added that shortly before the meeting with H. Van Rompuy he had been notified of a compromise reached by the member states in regard to the draft EU budget for next year. “We’ll be able to present an agreement - supported by a qualified majority of votes - on the next year’s budget”, said the head of the Polish government. “It’s a very good omen for our presidency” - he added.

Tusk said he would cooperate with Herman Van Rompuy on issues bearing crucial significance for the EU, such as economic management. He added he had talked with the EU Council President about the situation in Southern Europe and the Eastern Partnership. “Both the southern and eastern dimensions of our neighborhood create a lot of challenges and problems. The two issues must be dealt with simultaneously and in a balanced way”, underlined the prime minister.

“I count on the Polish government and the Polish people to lead us in the process of constructing Europe”, said Herman Van Rompuy. He promised to cooperate closely with the Polish authorities in the European Council. “Cooperation is the key, while our personal relations, trust and common European views constitute a fair ground”, emphasized the President of the European Council.

Van Rompuy pointed out that the next six months were likely to be dominated by economic issues. “We’ll be working on different ideas to reinforce the European growth, preparing the next G-20 summit, and discussing financial regulations”, said the President. According to him, one of the main tasks for the Polish presidency will be the launch of a debate on the new multi-year EU budget for the 2014-20 period. In his opinion, the economic growth will return to the entire euro-zone much sooner than expected. “I’m really glad Poland is so much interested in the euro-zone”, added Van Rompuy.

Moreover, the first day of the Polish Presidency in the EU Council saw Tusk meet in his Chancellery with the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso i.

Source: premier.gov.pl