Van Rompuy’s last message: France must lead Europe again

During a speech delivered by the outgoing European Council President Herman Van Rompuy in Paris on 25 November 2014, he urged France to regain its confidence and its position as a leading force of the European Union.

This could be seen as Mr Van Rompuy's final speech as the European Council president.

He handed over to the new President of the European Council Donald Tusk on the 1 December 2014.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Van Rompuy focuses on European future http://www.europeansources.info/record/van-rompuy-focuses-on-european-future/

EUObserver, 01.12.14: 'Haiku Herman' quietly leaves EU stage http://euobserver.com/institutional/126725

Council of European Union: Speech,01.12.14: Remarks by outgoing President Herman Van Rompuy at the handover ceremony with President of the European Council Donald Tusk http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/145985.pdf

De Morgen, 04.12.14: Dubious farewell bonus for Van Rompuy (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE154787-Dubious-farewell-bonus-for-Van-Rompuy

Notre Europe: Tribune, 04.12.14: Five years as President of the European Council http://www.notre-europe.eu/media/5yearseuropeancouncilpresidency-vanrompuy-ne-jdi-dec14.pdf?pdf=ok

EP: EPRS: EPRS Events, 05.05.15: The First Five Years of Permanent Presidency of the European Council: The Van Rompuy Experience, by himself http://epthinktank.eu/2015/05/18/the-first-five-years-of-permanent-presidency-of-the-european-council-the-van-rompuy-experience-by-himself/

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