In a video message, Van Rompuy said that Europe was on the way out of the crisis, but that there was still work to do.
"We have to keep on reforming our economies, making them more competitive, making it easier to create jobs. It won't always be simple, but is the best way to secure growth and employment for the future.
And we have to keep on dealing with the hard questions regarding the euro. The euro binds us strongly together and has brought a lot of good. But in the crisis we found out, the hard way, that crucial elements were missing in its set-up.
That's why the upcoming meetings of the European leaders will be crucial. We'll discuss very concrete plans for a closer economic and monetary union, what it means for banks, for national budgets, for tax payers, for voters. It's something that should have been done a long time ago. Now we need to get it right, and we need to do it in broad consultation."
"Of course there are many different views, but my job is to table proposals to strengthen the Economic and Monetary Union - proposals that are up to the stakes and have a chance to fly. It is a huge joint effort."
© European Council
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