The FINANCIAL -- Romania's left-wing Prime Minister Victor Ponta headed to Brussels Thursday for the EU summit despite a court ruling that President Traian Basescu should attend such meetings.

The two men have been at odds since Ponta's centre-left coalition took office in May after the former centre-right government fell on a no-confidence vote.

Romania's constitutional court ruled Wednesday that the president, as head of state, should take part in European Council meetings.

But the decision was criticised by Ponta, who called into question the legitimacy of the judges appointed by the centre-right Basescu and said he would not stay home.

According to EUbusiness, the president has not yet said if he plans to go to Brussels too.

Related Stories

• “The ECA’s role of external auditor of the EU is more important than ever in its 35-year history”
• World Bank will deepen partnership with Vietnam to achieve further poverty reduction
• PACE to observe the early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria