Brussels – European Council President Donald Tusk handed over the reins to his successor Charles Michel on Friday, as the European Union (EU) completes a change of leadership following EU-wide elections in May.
“Europe is the best place on earth, at least as long as it remains a continent of freedom and rule of law … inhabited by a community aware of its history and culture,” Tusk said, before symbolically handing Michel the bell used at summits to call EU leaders to order.
“I’m sure you, dear Charles, will use all your talents and virtues to maintain our unity,” he added.
Michel, who recently stepped down as Belgian prime minister, said he would take a “common-sense approach to problem-solving with innovation and efficiency.”
Charles Michel
He stressed the green economy as a priority while noting that Europe should be more assertive on the world stage.
“In the medium to long term, there is a risk of a new Cold War between the U.S. and China.
“Europe risks becoming collateral damage in this future conflict,” Michel said earlier, in an interview with Italy’s La Stampa and other European newspapers published on Friday.
(dpa/NAN)
