European Council President Donald Tusk | Sean Gallup/Getty Images Tusk backs Romania’s EU presidency after Juncker’s ‘doubts’ European Council president takes different view from Commission chief.

European Council President Donald Tusk said Tuesday he is confident Romania "will deliver" as it takes the over the rotating leadership of the Council of the EU.

"Happy New Year! I wish Romania all the best with your first EU presidency. I am confident you will deliver and look forward to working with you," Tusk wrote on Twitter.

Tusk's message was in stark contrast to comments from European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker last week. Juncker said Romania "has not yet fully understood what it means to preside over EU countries."

Juncker said that he had "doubts" about whether Romania can pull off its new role as an honest broker in shepherding legislative bills through the Council, one of the traditional roles of the six-month rotating presidency. "Thoughtful acting also requires a willingness to listen to others and the firm will to put one's own concerns at the end of the queue," Juncker said.

Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă said Tuesday she is determined "to demonstrate that Romania is a reliable partner in consolidating the European project and ensuring its cohesion."