Van Rompuy re-appointed as president of European Council

European Union leaders are appointing former Belgian prime minister Herman Van Rompuy to a second term as president of the European Council - the gathering of 27 EU heads of government.

Van Rompuy, a mild-mannered but canny negotiator, tweeted tonight that he was "very honoured".

He is the first person to hold the post. Van Rompuy is limited to two two-and-a-half-year terms.