European Council

EU leaders have re-elected Donald Tusk as president of the European Council despite a bid to oust him by his home country, Poland.
Sources say the leaders voted 27 to one to give him another two-and-a-half-year term.
The Polish government insisted Mr Tusk, a former PM from a rival party, had violated his mandate by interfering in domestic politics.

In a letter sent to European Council President Donald Tusk ahead of the 9-10 March EU summit, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov warned against attempts by Western powers to impose on his country a political platform "written in Tirana", EurActiv.com reported.

Bulgaria will voice its position against the model of multi-speed Europe suggested as one option by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the government has decided.

The Bulgarian government has decided to support the reelection of Donald Tusk as Euripean Council President for another term.

The decision, announced after a cabinet meeting, comes against the backdrop of resistance from authorities in Warsaw against his possible second tenure.

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov has sent a letter to EU member-states, NATO's secretary-general, and the country's "strategic partners - the US and Turkey."

Remarks made by European Council Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland, who says the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) may process applications on the jailed journalists and politicians in Turkey before awaiting a verdict from the Constitutional Court, should be treated as a very serious warning.

Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) chair Korneliya Ninova has vowed to veto any renewal of sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union.

Her comments, cited by the BSP press office, follow a Facebook post which slams the restrictions hampering, according to socialists, Bulgaria's trade and economy.

Interim Deputy Prime Minister Denitsa Zlateva said on Wednesday Bulgaria was staunchly against the notion of Europe divided into two tiers or multiple tiers.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence assured the European Union in Brussels on Feb. 20 that the Trump administration will develop their cooperation in trade and security and backs the EU as a partner in its own right.

The Munich Security Conference has started in Munich on Feb. 17 with top world leaders, diplomats and defense officials getting their first opportunity to meet with members of the U.S. President Donald Trump's administration amid concerns over the new president's commitment to NATO and posture toward Russia.