Antonio Costa Appointed President of the European Council: A Historic Moment for Portugal and the EU
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Appointment of Antonio Costa as President of the European Council |
| Date | Confirmed during a European Council meeting in Brussels |
| Key Figures | - Antonio Costa: Former Prime Minister of Portugal |
| - Ursula von der Leyen: Reappointed as President of the European Commission | |
| Historic Significance | First Portuguese leader to hold the position of President of the European Council |
| Background of Antonio Costa | - Born in 1961 |
| - Lawyer turned politician | |
| - Member of the Socialist Party (PS) of Portugal | |
| - Former Prime Minister of Portugal (2015-2024) | |
| - Former Mayor of Lisbon | |
| - Held the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award (2017) | |
| - Holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card | |
| Nickname | "Gandhi of Lisbon" |
| Treaty Reference | Roles established by the Treaty of Lisbon (signed December 13, 2007) |
| Previous Office Holders | - Herman Van Rompuy (2009-2014) |
| - Charles Michel (2019-2024) | |
| Diplomatic Context | Decision made during a European Council meeting in Brussels |
| Reappointment | Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission |