DHARAMSHALA: The European Council has elected Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk as its President and chosen Italy’s Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

EU leaders met in Brussels on Saturday to elect the new President of the European Council and EU High Representative. The leaders also discussed the weak economy and the situation in Ukraine, Gaza and Iraq.

In a statement, the European Council said: “The European Council elected Donald Tusk as its President for the period from 1 December 2014 to 31 May 2017. He was also appointed President of the Euro Summit, for the same period.

“Federica Mogherini, the current Italian foreign minister, was appointed High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, with the agreement of Jean-Claude Juncker, the newly elected President of the European Commission.”