António Costa, President of the European Council, has presided over 22 European and international summits during his first year in office, with the goal of “actively engaging with global partners” to foster peace.
This assessment was published by the European Council, which convenes the heads of government and state of the European Union (EU) to outline political guidelines and priorities. Costa has led this institution since December 1, 2024, marking one year of his tenure today.
According to the statement from the European Council, “In his role as President, António Costa actively engages with international partners to promote peace, security, and a fair, rules-based global order.”
The Council noted that Costa has intensified the EU’s relations with key international partners, having co-chaired 11 summits and leaders’ meetings since December 2024, representing over 60% of the United Nations family.
As the external representative of the EU on foreign policy and security matters, Costa engages in discussions at the level of heads of government and state at global meetings and forums.
The institution highlighted the EU’s objective to boost cooperation for global prosperity, peace, and security in an increasingly polarized geopolitical environment, reinforcing the global multilateral order.
The list of multilateral and bilateral summits includes last week’s EU summit with the African Union, as well as the G20 summit and the EU-South Africa leaders’ summit in November, among others.
At the community level, Costa led 11 meetings over the past year, including regular European summits in December, March, June, and October, as well as informal gatherings and Tripartite Social Summits.
One notable informal meeting was held last February, focusing on defense, which Costa initiated to encourage open dialogues on European priorities.
A retreat for European leaders on community economic competitiveness is scheduled for February of next year.
Having served nearly a decade as Portugal’s Prime Minister, Costa began his two-and-a-half-year term as President of the European Council on December 1, 2024, making him the first socialist and first Portuguese to hold the position.
His first year has been characterized by a leadership style emphasizing dialogue, upholding core EU values, and enhancing efficiency in processes.
Costa has prioritized unity among member states, strengthening the EU’s geopolitical influence, and advocating for a multilateral international order.
During the transition ceremony, he affirmed that his presidency would focus on preserving democracy, human rights, peace, and the rule of law.
In the initial months, he aimed to solidify relationships with European leaders and enhance institutional coordination, visiting several countries to gauge national concerns and build consensus.
In Brussels, there is a sense that his presidency seeks to foster understanding and political unity, avoiding unilateral decisions.
Moving forward, he will need to reinforce this bridging role among EU leaders in critical discussions, such as financial aid for Ukraine and the upcoming long-term European budget.
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