He emphasizes that the end of the war in Ukraine “cannot mean peace in a cemetery”
BRUSELAS, 29 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The new president of the European Council, António Costa, defended this Friday that unity is the “essence” of the European Union after taking up the baton of his predecessor in office, Charles Michel, who has also highlighted the importance of unity for the block.
“Today, in this globalized world, the only way to be truly patriotic, to guarantee sovereignty, is to build a common Europe,” said Costa during the transfer of powers ceremony held at the Council headquarters in Brussels, which was attended by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the vice president of the European Parliament Pina Picierno, among other authorities.
In his speech, the former Prime Minister of Portugal reviewed his political career from the mayor of Lisbon to the presidency of the European Council, “proud” to have served his country and now, the EU, on the eve of the start of his mandate. , which starts this Sunday, December 1.
“Lisbon is my city. Portugal is my country. And Europe is our common home. There is no contradiction between these three levels,” he said, before emphasizing that “only united” will the EU be able to “defend security, stability and peace” on the continent.
“Only together can we achieve shared prosperity, economic growth and the climate transition. Only together can we make Europe’s voice heard on the international stage. Thus, unity is the essence of the European Union,” he stressed. A unit that has committed to “building” daily, but without ceasing to value the “natural diversity” that enriches the block and that it also wants to “take advantage of.”
EU ENLARGEMENT AS A PATH TO PEACE IN UKRAINE
Costa has also praised some of the values of the EU, such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights, principles that he sees as “at risk” in the face of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, a war that has now lasted 33 months on European soil.
“We all long for peace. Especially the brave and heroic Ukrainian people. But peace cannot mean the peace of a cemetery. Peace cannot mean capitulation. Peace must not reward the aggressor. Peace in Ukraine must be just; it must be lasting and must be based on international law,” he added.
Likewise, Costa has highlighted the importance of the accession to the EU of the Western Balkans and the eastern neighboring countries as “a powerful tool for peace, security and prosperity”, in addition to being, in his opinion, of a “geopolitical imperative”.
However, unlike his predecessor in office, who marked 2030 as the year of the next major EU enlargement, Costa prefers that the process move forward without setting “artificial” deadlines to avoid “frustrations”, but also without having to face unnecessary obstacles.
WORK AGENDA
After the transfer of powers this Friday, the former Portuguese prime minister will start his agenda on Monday, December 2, with a meeting at the headquarters of the European Parliament in Brussels at the invitation of the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and at the which the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will also participate.
Immediately afterwards, a first formal speech is scheduled for Wednesday at the headquarters of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in an effort to improve the relations of the European Council with the rest of the community institutions, which will be followed by a dinner with the six Balkan leaders, as well as the new EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, and the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos.