Tough-talking Donald Tusk set to take over as EU president
EU's new Polish president will use expertise on eastern issues to deal with Russia over Ukraine
Poland's Donald Tusk takes over as European Council president today, the first person from the former Soviet-dominated east to take a top Brussels role, with a mandate to revive the economy and deal with a resurgent Russia.
With his direct, forceful manner, the 57-year-old former prime minister promises a contrast with Herman van Rompuy, the outgoing council chief and the first person to hold the post.
Former Belgian premier Van Rompuy was a conciliatory figure during his five years at the head of the council of all 28 EU leaders, known for writing Japanese haiku poems and once described as having the "charisma of a damp rag".
But Tusk will be a different proposition, with his roots in Poland's anti-communist Solidarity trade union, at a time when the European Union faces a mounting challenge from Russia over Ukraine. "He speaks for himself, and often says exactly what he thinks," a European diplomat said.
Tusk completes the EU's new top trio for the next five years, alongside Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the union's executive branch the European Commission, and foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini.
The choice of Tusk for a strategic job that involves coordinating the EU's heads of government and representing the bloc abroad underscores the rise of the former Warsaw Pact countries 25 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and 10 years after they joined the union.
"I come to Brussels from a country that deeply believes in the significance of Europe," Tusk said after he was named on August 30.
"His perspective is very different from the West Europeans," said Agnieszka Lada from the Institute of Public Affairs in Warsaw. "He will seek more comprehension for what the Balts, the Polish, the Czechs or the Hungarians are thinking."
After years dominated by the euro's debt crisis, Tusk will also direct the EU towards a "stronger role in foreign policy", a European source said.
The first challenge will be the crisis in Ukraine - a subject on which Poland has always had strong views - with Nato foreign ministers set to discuss the issue in Brussels tomorrow.
"Ukraine will not be easy for him," said Lada. "But he understands that you have to negotiate with Russia."
Janis Emmanouilidis of the European Policy Centre in Brussels agreed.
"Tusk is a pragmatist. If he sees the possibility and necessity to negotiate with Russia he definitely will do that," she said.
Moldova votes at the crossroads
Moldovans yesterday began voting in elections where they are choosing between parties that want to move closer to Europe and those that want to move back into Russia's orbit.
The parliamentary election has taken on wider significance with the unrest in neighbouring Ukraine. Moldova, like Ukraine, has a pro-Russia separatist region in its east.
The impoverished former Soviet republic of less than four million is torn between re-electing the current pro-European coalition or choosing parties that want closer economic ties with Moscow.
Russia placed an embargo on Moldovan fruit after the country signed a trade association agreement with the European Union in June.
The Supreme Court on Saturday rejected an appeal for a pro-Russia party to run in the election on the grounds that it illegally received foreign funding.
