DISINFO: Donald Tusk implements the German vision of the European Union
SUMMARY
It is not a secret that the President of the European Council Donald Tusk implements the German concept of the European Union.
RESPONSE
This message is a part of the Kremlin’s narrative about the undemocratic EU – see examples here and here. Also, it promotes the idea that civil servants from smaller EU members do the bidding of the larger, older EU member states instead of being independent, impartial, objective and loyal – see example here.
It also misrepresents the role currently held by Donald Tusk, as President of the European Council. The President's role is to chair European Council meetings and drive forward its work, ensure the preparation of European Council meetings and the continuity of their work, help to facilitate cohesion and consensus within the European Council and present a report to the European Parliament after each European Council meeting. Decisions are taken by the representatives of the Member States who make up the Council together with the European Council President and the President of the European Commission and who, depending on the issue, take decisions by simple majority (15 member states vote in favour), qualified majority (55% of member states, representing at least 65% of the EU population, vote in favour) or unanimous voting (all votes are in favour).