The former Prime Minister of Portugal considered that enlargement “will undoubtedly strengthen” the European Union
The president-elect of the European Council, António Costa, declared this Friday that there is a “geopolitical urgency” in fulfilling the enlargement of the European Union (EU) and asked that it be carried out “without artificial deadlines” and “undue obstacles”.
During an intervention to mark the ‘passing of testimony’ between Charles Michel and the elected president of the European Council, in Brussels, António Costa said that there is a “geopolitical urgency that must be reflected in the expansion” of the community bloc to other countries.
“Enlargement is a powerful instrument of peace, security and prosperity. So let’s use this instrument! Both the EU and the candidate countries need to work harder and faster. Without artificial deadlines, but also without undue obstacles”, added the president-elect of the European Council.
The former Prime Minister of Portugal considered that enlargement “will undoubtedly strengthen” the European Union.
However, “peace, security and resilience” are not just issues for the community bloc and the EU must look at the entire planet, excluding concepts that for António Costa are outdated.
“We live in a multipolar world, with seven different continents and one hundred and ninety-two countries. We must involve them, weaving together a global network. In doing so, we must set aside concepts such as the ‘global south’ or the ‘global north’. The EU’s external action must recognize that both the south and the north are, in reality, plural”, he argued.
António Costa highlighted the “sense of urgency” to bet on the economic prosperity of the European Union (EU), defending “collective action” between leaders and “teamwork” with other institutions, such as the European Commission.
“After speaking with the European leaders I have visited over the past few weeks, I feel confident thanks to their sense of urgency and, above all, the fact that they all place an emphasis on collective action inspired by creativity and guided by pragmatism” , said Antônio Costa.
Speaking at the testimony ceremony of the current president of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Brussels, the former Portuguese prime minister urged: “On this path, it is up to us, institutions and Member States, to make decisions”.
“We must complete the single market, reduce bureaucracy, invest in skills and innovation and use challenges in the field of defense and energy as engines to boost competitiveness”, he listed.
With the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, attending the ceremony, António Costa argued that “preserving and reinforcing the legacy of the European Union is a team effort”, and, despite representing different institutions, this is “a single Union European”.
On Sunday, the former prime minister, António Costa, begins his role as president of the European Council, the institution made up of the EU heads of government and state, which defines community political guidelines and priorities.
He is the first Portuguese and the first socialist to head the institution.
