António Costa’s speech comes one day after the inauguration of the new North American president, Donald Trump, when the EU fears the economic and commercial impacts of this new administration.
The President of the European Council, António Costa, promised today, in his new role, to support the development of the nine outermost regions of the European Union (EU), including Madeira and the Azores, with financial aid and support for competitiveness and sustainability.
“As a former member of the European Parliament and former member of the Committee of the Regions, I have argued that the European Union is stronger if we act cohesively, if we reaffirm the advantages of multi-level governance, without any region being forgotten, without any citizen is left behind. The outermost regions are strategically important for the Union […] and we have a responsibility to support its development”, said Antonio Costa.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting of the Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions, in the French city of Strasbourg, António Costa assured: “It will also be my role, as president of the European Council, to ensure that the nine outermost regions are fully recognized in our cohesion policy , in our competitiveness compass, in our financial solutions and in our sustainable development”.
Addressing – for the first time in his mandate as head of the institution that brings together EU heads of government and state – the European Parliament conference, the former Portuguese prime minister stressed that the Union must maintain “a stable strategic vision based in territorial cohesion and integrated economies for the benefit of all citizens, in all regions”.
“What distinguishes the European Union is the convergence between democratic values, trust between Member States, the well-being model and a collective desire for prosperity, without exclusions, but with total integration, with all regions on board. , no matter how far apart they may be, because, in these disturbing and unpredictable times, unity is what makes us stronger, it is what makes us powerful”, he added.
António Costa’s speech comes one day after the inauguration of the new North American president, Donald Trump, when the EU fears the economic and commercial impacts of this new administration.
The EU has nine outermost regions – parts of the territory furthest from the rest of Europe and which face more geographic and economic challenges –, these being the two Portuguese autonomous regions (Madeira and Azores), a Spanish autonomous community (Canary Islands), the five French overseas departments (Martinique, Mayotte, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Réunion) and a French overseas collectivity (Saint Martin).
António Costa has been president of the European Council since December 1, 2024 and until May 31, 2027.
Composed of the EU heads of government and state, the European Council is the European institution that defines the Union’s general political guidelines and priorities.
