António Costa, Portugal’s former prime minister, will assume the European Council presidency on December 1. This leadership transition, part of the EU’s institutional cycle, took place on Friday. Charles Michel handed Costa the ceremonial bell during a brief ceremony. Costa emphasized unity, urging Europe to tackle shared challenges together.

“Patriotism means ensuring sovereignty and building a common Europe,” Costa told officials and diplomats. He stressed the importance of collective efforts for security, peace, economic growth, and climate action. “Unity is the lifeblood of the European Union,” he declared.

Costa’s term aligns with Ursula von der Leyen’s second presidency of the European Commission. His tenure will last two-and-a-half years, with a possible extension. The president’s role includes preparing and moderating EU summits, setting the bloc’s political agenda, and fostering unity among leaders.

Priorities for Costa’s Leadership

Costa aims to support Ukraine, enhance defense policy, improve competitiveness, manage migration, and reform the EU budget. He also plans to advance EU enlargement by prioritizing fairness over artificial deadlines. Candidate countries include Albania, Ukraine, and several others. Costa wants to avoid delays while maintaining rigorous standards for membership.

“Enlargement is a geopolitical imperative and a tool for peace, security, and prosperity,” Costa said. Unlike Michel, he prefers summits lasting one day and aims to finalize conclusions before meetings. Costa also plans informal retreats to encourage open discussions on critical issues, starting with defense on February 3.

Costa, the first person of color to hold this role, brings unique perspectives to his leadership. Janis A. Emmanouilidis of the European Policy Center expects Costa to seek compromises while maintaining bold visions. Costa’s leadership style prioritizes unity, efficient collaboration, and innovative approaches to Europe’s pressing challenges.