António Costa, elected president of the European Council this Thursday, says he will take on the role with a “great sense of mission”, aiming to promote unity among the 27 member states and a strategic agenda for the next five years.
This position was conveyed by the former Prime Minister of Portugal on his social network account for a period of two and a half years.
“It is with a great sense of mission that I accept the responsibility of becoming the next President of the European Council. “I thank the members of the European Council for the confidence they placed in me by electing me, as well as the European Socialist Party (PSE) and the Portuguese government for their support in this decision,” wrote António Costa.
The former Portuguese prime minister added that as President of the European Council from December 1, he will be “fully committed to promoting unity among the 27 Member States and will focus on implementing the Strategic Framework approved today, which will guide the European Union for the next five years.”
In addition to thanking the support of the PSE and the PSD/CDS-PP government led by Luis Montenegro, in this message the former head of the Portuguese Executive welcomed the decision of the European Council to nominate Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission and to appoint Kayas Callas as High Representative Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
“I intend to work closely with them in the spirit of loyal cooperation between European institutions,” he emphasized.
António Costa also thanked the outgoing Belgian President of the European Council, Charles Michel, “for his enormous commitment to Europe” and wished him all the best for the remainder of his term in these positions.
António Costa was chosen to succeed the Belgian Charles Michel (in office since 2019) at the leadership of the European Council, the institution of the European Union that brings together the heads of government and states of the European bloc, by appointment made by a qualified specialist. majority (55% of 27 member states, representing 65% of the total population).
Prime Minister of Portugal between 2015 and 2023, leading three governments (the last of which was supported by an absolute majority in Parliament), António Costa is the first Portuguese and first Socialist to head the European Council.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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