White House sends congratulations to EU's Tusk, Mogherini

(WASHINGTON) - The White House on Saturday sent congratulations to Polish Premier Donald Tusk and Italy's Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini on their election to top posts within the European Union.

"The president congratulates Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland on his election as President of the European Council, and Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini of Italy on being chosen as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy," a White House statement said.

"As we advance security and prosperity around the world, the United States has no more important partner than Europe," the statement read.

"We look forward to working closely with President Tusk and High Representative Mogherini, as well as Commission President Juncker and all of the new commissioners.

Tusk, 57, who takes office on December 1, from the first EU president

Herman Van Rompuy, is a pro-European free marketeer with roots in Poland's Solidarity anti-Soviet trade union.

He has been prime minister since 2007.

Mogherini, Italy's 41-year-old foreign minister, was a longtime frontrunner to replace Catherine Ashton as head of the EU's foreign service. She has been hailed by her supporters as a new, younger face for Europe.

Mogherini will start her new job on November 1.