Antonio Costa: EU enlargement to the Western Balkans is a powerful tool for peace and prosperity

Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa accepted the presidency of the European Council from Charles Michel.
On Sunday, 1 December, the 63-year-old politician formally takes over the position amid divisions in the Union. In this role, he will preside over the regular summits where the leaders of the 27 EU member states gather.
Costa will have to try to bridge divergent interests and steer them towards some kind of consensus as Europe grapples with pressing issues, from the war in Ukraine to Donald Trump's return or the economic recovery.
"Only together can we make Europe's voice heard on the international stage," Costa said at the ceremony with Michel. "Unity is the strength of the European Union, but we must not ignore our differences of opinion," he added.
"Enlargement to the Western Balkans and our eastern neighbours is a powerful tool for peace, security and prosperity - and a geopolitical imperative. Both the European Union and the candidate countries need to work harder and faster - without artificial deadlines, but also without unjustified obstacles," stressed Costa.
Unlike his Belgian predecessor, who drew criticism as he sought to elevate himself as the EU's leader, those familiar with Costa's strategy say he plans to take a more modest approach.
"He wants to be not so much a showman as a mediator," a senior European diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity.
To that end, Costa is already touring EU capitals and talking to member state leaders.
He also wants to have a much smoother relationship - and frequent meetings - with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Costa is a former mayor of Lisbon, where he earned a reputation as a good mediator by putting together a number of fragile coalitions that kept him in power.
A pragmatic and skilful tactician, he became known for negotiating difficult agreements and turning setbacks into opportunities.
"In a democracy, politics must be based on compromise. One enters politics to make deals," he said in an interview earlier this year.
On the European stage in 2020, he helped broker a deal with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to overcome resistance to a massive post-Kovid-19 recovery plan.
But his bid for a top post in Brussels was almost thwarted after he was forced to resign last year when his administration became the subject of a bribery investigation.
Ultimately, however, the corruption probe collapsed, with a court ruling in April that there was no evidence of wrongdoing.
That paved the way for EU leaders - many of whom, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have warm personal ties to Costa - to pick him for the European Council hot seat. | BGNES