Herman Van Rompuy, who chairs the European Union Council, on Monday urged that a financial rescue deal clinched after tough overnight talks between Cyprus and its international creditors be enacted "as soon as possible." Welcoming the agreement "to ensure a sustainable future for Cyprus in the euro area", Van Rompuy said "it is now for all parties to ensure its implementation as soon as possible." ccr/rl

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Herman Van Rompuy will retire from politics when his mandate as European Council President expires in 2014, the 65-year old Belgian said on Sunday. Van Rompuy was re-appointed as Council President in June 2012 and his term will end in late November 2014, according to the European Council's website. He has held the post since its creation in late 2009.

The European Parliament, hostile to just agreed spending cuts in the EU budget and with the final say on the deal, must now live up to its responsibilities and pass it, EU President Herman Van Rompuy said Friday. EU leaders had settled sharp their differences over the 2014-20 budget and now "I hope that the European Parliament will meet it's (responsibilities)," Van Rompuy said after marathon talks lasting more than 24 hours. But the heads of the four largest groups in Parliament said they would not accept the budget as it would not help boost the struggling EU economy.

European Union leaders finally clinched a deal on the bloc's next 2014-2020 budget, summit chair and EU president Herman Van Rompuy said Friday. "Deal done!" Van Rompuy said on Twitter after more than 24 hours of tough talks between the bloc's 27 heads of state and government. ccr/arp