António Costa “will be transmitting message of thanks”
Portugal’s outgoing prime minister António Costa is in Brussels today for an intense round of meetings with European leaders.
Between today and Friday, he is expected to met with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, as well as his German counterpart Olaf Scholz.
According to the Prime Minister’s office, this round of contacts “with some of the main European players with whom he has worked the most” will allow Mr Costa to convey a “message of thanks for the work that has been built up, in good coordination, over the last eight years”.
The outgoing PM still awaiting the results of an investigation by the Supreme Court will take part in the European Council meeting between Thursday and Friday, which, in principle, will be his last as Prime Minister, writes Lusa.
This morning, he was scheduled to meet European Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager and the Dean of the College of Europe, Federica Mogherini, the former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs. He also had meetings scheduled with the Commissioners for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Paolo Gentiloni, and Employment and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit – who is also the European Socialists’ leading candidate for President of the next Commission.
Early this afternoon, Mr Costa is due to meet with Ursula von der Leyen, with the Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, and later he is due to have his meeting with Roberta Metsola.
“Also on Wednesday, the Prime Minister will inaugurate a photography exhibition in Brussels entitled “Europe with us!” and is scheduled to meet with Elisa Ferreira, the Portuguese Commissioner for Cohesion”, adds Lusa.
Tomorrow morning is the moment for the outgoing PM to meet with Jens Stoltenberg, at the Atlantic Alliance headquarters. Mr Stoltenberg is also tipped to be leaving his post later this year.
Tomorrow is also the day for the European Council and on Friday, finally, Mr Costa has an early morning meeting with German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, before attending a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the European Economic Area.
After that it is a short-hop to Paris, where the outgoing PM will be participating in cultural initiatives to make the half century celebrations of the April 25 revolution.
These are initiatives promoted by the Portuguese embassy in Paris, said an official source from the prime minister’s office.
As to António Costa’s next ‘steps’ in the world of politics, no-one is telling. He has intimated that the so-called Influencer corruption probe could have put paid to further political office – albeit very few believe it.
Source material: LUSA
