Costa quotes Cavaco Silva: “Let the European Council work”

Former Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Tuesday quoted Cavaco Silva as saying: “Let the European Council work” as he spoke about the lack of agreement among European leaders on Monday over the choice of who will hold the top jobs in the European Union.

António Costa, nominated as a candidate for the presidency of the European Council, spoke at a conference organized in Lisbon by Abreu Advogados and the Belgian Embassy, ​​entitled “Europe and the future: a new legislature”.

Asked that an informal dinner of EU leaders ended Monday in Brussels without an agreement, the former Portuguese prime minister declined to talk about his candidacy or comment on the current state of the selection process. Presidents of the Council, Commission and European Parliament

Seeing that the former PSD leader and current State Councilor Márquez Mendes was in the audience listening to him, António Costa decided to quote the former President of the Republic and Prime Minister of the Social Democrats, Aníbal Cavaco Silva.

“I’m going to use a quote from my predecessor that I don’t quote often, but today, in honor of Dr. Marquez Mendes, I will quote: Let’s work. The European Council will work, and then we will see results,” he said.

During that conference, when first asked about his candidacy for the presidency of the European Council and the impasse that emerged at Monday’s informal dinner in Brussels, the former prime minister said he would not comment, citing his experience in this regard. in terms of presence in this European body.

“I have had enough years in the European Council to understand how difficult work in the Council is. I wish all members good work and good decisions for the future of Europe,” he said.

Speaking generally about the work of the European Council, which brings together the leaders of 27 member states, the former head of the national executive called the decisions taken by this body “constant miracles.”

“They are proof of the desire of 27 member states to be together, no matter what. There are 27 member states that have different dimensions, often conflicting interests and very different histories, and, despite everything, they reach an agreement,” he said He.

At the end of the conference, former European Council President Van Rompuy was asked whether he thought António Costa was a good candidate for the job, but the Belgian turned to diplomacy. He turned to the former Prime Minister of Portugal and said: “I wish you good luck.”

Monday’s informal dinner marked the official start of the debate over the top positions of the European Union (EU), which is due to culminate in a decision at next week’s European summit discussing the name of António Costa to lead the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen and Robert Metsola for the second terms in the Commission and Parliament respectively, and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as head of public diplomacy.

This informal dinner of EU leaders holding top positions in the next institutional cycle, between 2024 and 2029, took place a week after the European elections, which brought victory to the European People’s Party (EPP), followed by the Socialists and Democrats (S&D). ) and liberals from Renew Europe.

A European source told Lusa that tonight “three parties [PPE, S&D e liberais] presented the first three candidates”, including the name of António Costa to the European Council.

During the debate, Antonio Costa was asked about the current role of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He then noted that although they both coincided in the European Council, he showed that the leader of the Italian executive “always wanted to be part of the majority.”