António Costa, President of the European Council, will embark on a tour of EU member states in early September to discuss the war in Ukraine, the budget, and trade with community leaders. This visit follows a similar trip he made last autumn prior to his presidency. A European official noted that the purpose is to engage with each EU leader and prepare for upcoming challenges.
“The aim is to gather views on the international landscape and the EU’s situation, helping to shape the political agenda for the months ahead and preparing for European Council meetings,” the official stated. Key topics will include the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Israel, EU defense initiatives, and enlargement.
During the summer, efforts for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine were unsuccessful despite pressure from the EU and allies including the US, UK, France, and Germany.
The agenda will also cover the new Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 negotiation process, trade relations amid tensions with the US, and enhancing EU competitiveness.
The tour began in Brussels on Wednesday with a meeting with the Belgian Prime Minister. Costa will then travel to Slovenia on Monday to deliver a keynote speech at the Bled conference, meet the Slovenian Prime Minister, and visit Croatia on the same day. He will continue to Vienna, Austria, and then to Romania and Bulgaria. The tour will wrap up next week with visits to the Czech Republic and the Netherlands on Friday.
No date has been set for a visit to Portugal.
Costa aims to gather insights from EU heads of government to prepare for forthcoming European Councils and international summits. In a statement, he emphasized that “these discussions will aid in defining our collective agenda in light of ongoing challenges.”
As President of the European Council, Costa stated his responsibility to listen to the priorities of all leaders, particularly in uncertain times, and to foster consensus and cooperation. He highlighted that unity is crucial in today’s unpredictable world.
The tour will span from September 1 to 19 and cover most EU countries.
By year’s end, Costa is scheduled to preside over two formal European Councils in October and December 2025, as well as an Informal European Council in Copenhagen on October 1. The next day, the European Political Community meeting will also take place in Denmark.
He will participate in the EU-CELAC summit in Colombia from November 8 to 9, followed by the EU-African Union summit in Angola on November 24 and 25. Costa will also represent the EU during the UN High-Level Week in September, addressing the General Assembly and the UN Security Council, and will attend COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in November.
Costa began his two-and-a-half-year term as President of the European Council on December 1, 2024, making history as the first socialist and Portuguese to hold this position.
Leave a Reply