Costa recalls political past in Portugal to defend common Europe at the European Council

The elected president of the European Council, António Costa, recalled today his political past in the Lisbon municipality and the Portuguese Government to advocate for a “common Europe” aimed at security, economic growth, and greater diplomatic presence.
“I was the mayor of Lisbon and I am proud to have served my city, I was the Prime Minister of Portugal and I am proud to have served my country. I now take on the role of President of the European Council and I am proud to serve the European Union (EU). Lisbon is my city, Portugal is my country, and Europe is our common home, there is no contradiction between these three levels,” declared António Costa.
Speaking at the handover ceremony from the current president of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Brussels, the former Portuguese prime minister stressed: “Nowadays, in a globalized world – the only way to be truly patriotic, to ensure sovereignty, is to build a common Europe.”
“Only together can we defend security, stability, and peace on our continent, only together can we achieve shared prosperity, economic growth and the climate transition, and only together can we make Europe’s voice heard on the international scene – unity is the lifeblood of the European Union,” he highlighted.
On Sunday, António Costa begins his duties as President of the European Council, the institution composed of the heads of Government and State of the EU, which defines community political guidelines and priorities.
For his part, the outgoing president of the institution, Charles Michel, assured that Costa has the necessary qualities to perform a good job that requires efforts and sacrifices, namely “sensitivity and experience.”