European Council
| Use attributes for filter ! | |
| Presidents | Donald Tusk |
|---|---|
| Locations | Europa building |
| Brussels | |
| Headquarters location | Brussels, Belgium |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Type of business | Institution of the European Union |
| Formation | 1961 (informally); 2009 (formally) |
| Date of Reg. | |
| Date of Upd. | |
| ID | 962520 |
About European Council
The European Council is a collective body that defines the European Union's overall political direction and priorities. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.
How Hamas built a force to attack Israel on 7 October
... Hugh Lovatt, a Middle East analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said Israel would have been aware of the joint training drills but " reached the wrong conclusion" assessing they amounted to the " standard" activity of paramilitary groups in the Palestinian territories, rather than being " indicative of a looming large-scale attack"...
Yahya Sinwar: Who is the Hamas leader?
... Hugh Lovatt, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), believes Deif was the brains behind the planning of the 7 October attack because it was a military operation, but Sinwar " would likely have been part of the group that planned and influenced it"...
Poland's Tusk-led pro-EU opposition signs deal and waits to govern
... They said they would nominate KO leader and former European Council chief Donald Tusk as candidate for prime minister...
Israel Gaza: EU leaders set to back humanitarian pauses
... European Council President Charles Michel says and the leaders are keen to facilitate access to food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter...
Poland election: Women and youth force PiS from power
... Donald Tusk, a former president of the European Council, is expected to bring more constructive relations...
Polish elections: When are they and why is Europe watching closely?
... A former prime minister of Poland from 2007-14, he later became president of the European Council...
Ukraine dam: Thousands flee floods after dam collapse near Nova Kakhovka
... " The head of Nato, Jens Stoltenberg, said the destruction of the dam demonstrated once again the brutality of Russia s war in Ukraine, while Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, said he was " shocked by the unprecedented attack"...
Poland protest: Hundreds of thousands demand change in Warsaw
... Donald Tusk, a former head of the European Council, also welcomed supporters during the " record" march...
General election 2019: Don't give up on stopping Brexit - Tusk
Outgoing European Council President Donald Tusk has urged British voters not to "give up" on stopping Brexit.
As campaigning ramps up ahead of next month's general Election , he warned that leaving the EU would leave the UK a "second-rate player".
In a speech, he also said Brexit would likely mark the "real end of the British Empire ".
He is due to step down from his role next month, having held The Post for five years.
Mr Tusk's intervention comes as Conservative leader Boris Johnson said the UK Parliament was "paralysed" and had refused "time and again to honour the mandate of the people and to deliver Brexit".
Former head of the UK diplomatic service Sir Simon Fraser said he believed Mr Tusk was a friend of the UK But argued making the comments was "not The Right thing to do".
"I think The Principle that politicians don't comment on the electoral affairs of other countries is a wise principle," he added.
Meanwhile, the UK has continued to refuse to put forward a candidate for the next European Commission , which is due to take office next month if approved by MEPs.
The BBC understands the UK's EU ambassador has written to The Commission saying that a candidate will not be put forward due to the Election .
In The Letter , Sir Tim Barrow is understood to say pre-Election rules prevented ministers from putting forward nominees for jobs at EU institutions until after polling day.
However, he is understood to have insisted the UK does not want to stop The Commission being formed as soon as possible.
Mr Johnson is hoping to win a majority in 12 December's Election so that he can take the UK out of the EU on 31 January with The Deal he negotiated with Brussels.
But Labour is promising to renegotiate that deal and put it to a referendum, with the option of remaining in the EU, if it wins the Election - and smaller opposition parties are campaigning to Remain.
Brexit 'extra time'Speaking at the College of Europe In Bruges , Mr Tusk said: "Brexit may happen at the beginning of next year.
"I did everything in my power to avoid the confrontational no-deal scenario and extend the time for reflection and a possible British change of heart".
"The UK Election takes place in one month. Can things still be turned around?
"The Only Words that come To My mind today are simply: Don't give up.
"In this match, we had added time, we are already in extra time, perhaps it will even go to penalties?"
Donald Tusk 's term of office ends in a few weeks' time.
Which means he's prepared to brave accusations that he's interfering in The General Election .
And that he feels free to challenge the sense developing among the rest of the EU, that it would be better if the UK left as soon as possible.
Speaking at the College of Europe In Bruges tonight, he quoted The Philosopher Hannah Arendt to encourage those campaigning for Britain to remain.
His message was simply not to give up.
The EU has accepted an extension to the Brexit deadline, meaning the UK is now due to leave at the end of January 2020.
Mr Tusk has repeatedly hinted he would like to see the UK stay in The Bloc - But his comments, in the midst of an Election Campaign - are likely to be controversial.
He acknowledged this in his speech, adding his remarks were "something I wouldn't have dared to say a few months ago, as I could be fired for being too frank".
He added that a "longing for the Empire " could be heard in The Voices of Brexiteers who strive to make the UK "global again" through leaving the EU.
"But the reality is exactly The Opposite . Only as part of a united Europe can the UK play a global role," he added.
"One of my English friends is probably right when he says with melancholy that Brexit is The Real end of the British Empire . "
Mr Tusk is due to stand down from his role on 1 December, when he will be replaced by former Belgian PM Charles Michel .
donald tusk, brexit
Source of news: bbc.com
