Donald Tusk hands over European Council presidency to Charles Michel

The outgoing President of the European Council Donald Tusk (R) and incoming President Charles Michel shakes hands during the handover ceremony at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Nov. 29, 2019. Charles Michel will take office from Dec. 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

BRUSSELS, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Donald Tusk, the outgoing president of the European Council, handed over the post to former Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel here at a ceremony on Friday morning.

The head of the European Council chairs the gatherings of European Union (EU) member states' leaders, drives forward its work, and ensures the EU's external representation on issues concerning its common foreign and security policy.