António Costa
Portuguese politician, President of the European Council since 2024 (1961-)
Photo: João Pedro Correia, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
- 3h ago
Porto housing protests split commentators over rent caps and a stalled supply of homes
Demonstrators took to the streets of Porto on 16 October 2026 over the housing crisis, and Portuguese columnists disagreed on whether rent caps or new construction offer a way out.
- 6h ago
EU leaders reject US push to unfreeze Russian assets as Trump-Zelensky rift deepens
European leaders turned down a reported US proposal to release billions of euros in frozen Russian assets, while Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš accused Trump of betrayal over a Russian diesel deal.
- yesterday
Tusk rules out softer EU sanctions on Russia as Zelensky thanks Poland
Donald Tusk used his meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, 15 October 2026, to rule out any easing of EU sanctions on Russia. The talks had been planned for 15:30 but were pushed back because the EU summit ran long.
- 2d ago
Latvian PM urges one less beer per European a year to aid Ukraine
On 15 October, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs proposed that every European drink one beer less a year and put the savings toward Ukraine's defence as the EU summit opened in Brussels.
- 2d ago
Von der Leyen says 70 billion euro gap in Ukraine funding for 2027 must be closed
Ursula von der Leyen said the 2027 shortfall of 70 billion euros for Ukraine must be covered, with partner financing expected to supply a third of it. Friedrich Merz and Ulf Kristersson spoke to reporters in Brussels on the same day.
- 2d ago
EU summit in Brussels to tackle energy prices, 2028-2034 budget and Ukraine
Leaders gather in Brussels on 15 October with energy prices, a proposed windfall tax and the 2028-2034 EU budget on the table. Greece's prime minister will argue that prices must fall first, within fiscal limits.
- 3d ago
Germany, Italy and Belgium seek an EU "emergency brake" on new rules
Germany, Italy and Belgium want member states to be able to halt new EU laws seen as overly burdensome for governments and business. The proposal, set out in a letter to Council President António Costa, comes days before the leaders' summit on 15 and 16 October.
- 4d ago
Ukraine passes minority education law, clearing the way for two EU negotiating clusters
Ukraine's parliament passed a minority-language education law that Hungary set as a condition for EU talks. Ireland's Thomas Byrne said all member states agreed to open two clusters for Ukraine and Moldova, formally due on Tuesday, 13 October.
- 4d ago
Montenegro rejects Passos Coelho's call for a PSD alliance with Chega
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said on Monday, 12 October, that the PSD should not be chained to Chega, responding to former prime minister Pedro Passos Coelho's SIC Notícias interview in which Passos urged a right-wing alliance with Chega and the Liberal Initiative.
- 4d ago
Trump lifts sanctions on Russian diesel exports as senators push back over Ukraine law
The US lifted sanctions on Russian diesel exports and announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow promising more than 300,000 metric tons immediately. Bipartisan senators say the deal may violate a 2022 law, ahead of the 3 November midterm elections.
- Oct 10
Irish presidency proposes 8% cut to Commission's 2028-2034 EU budget plan
The revised framework totals 1.62 trillion euros and saves 141 billion euros against the Commission's initial proposal, with cohesion and agriculture taking the smallest reduction. The Commission criticised the cuts, and Portugal's prime minister said his country is not in a position to be optimistic.
- Oct 9
Canada to launch new alliance with EU at Montreal summit on 29-30 October
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa will attend the Montreal summit, where Canada begins what he called a transformative alliance with the European Union. He spoke after Elon Musk backed separatist movements in Quebec and Alberta and the secession of Saskatchewan.
- Oct 6
Von der Leyen and Montenegro push back against 2028–2034 EU budget cuts
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro rejected spending reductions on 6 October 2026, defending cohesion and agricultural funding.
- Oct 2
Portugal Prosecutors Reject António Costa Request to Inspect Operação Influencer Files
Portuguese prosecutors have denied former Prime Minister António Costa access to the Operação Influencer investigation for the sixth time, prompting Costa to call the decision an assault on the rule of law.
- Oct 2
Seventeen EU leaders oppose cuts to agriculture and cohesion in 2028–2034 budget
Leaders from seventeen member states submitted a joint letter to EU presidency holder Ireland, rejecting proposed spending cuts to regional cohesion and the Common Agricultural Policy ahead of the October summit in Brussels.
- Oct 1
G7 agrees to release 100 million barrels of fuel reserves as US drops export ban threat
Group of Seven leaders agreed on 2 October to coordinate a 100-million-barrel emergency oil and diesel release through the IEA, prompting US President Donald Trump to withdraw threats of a diesel export ban.
- Sep 26
Lavrov and Wadephul hold first German-Russian talks since 2022 at UN General Assembly
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met German counterpart Johann Wadephul for 20 minutes in New York as Donald Trump pushed for a peace deal before winter.
- Sep 24
Portugal clarifies crude reserves in France as opposition warns of energy risks
Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho rejected claims of an energy shortage, confirming Portugal holds 92 days of reserves with 132,000 tonnes of crude held in France.
- Sep 24
Pedro Sánchez and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani promote progressive alliance at Gracie Mansion
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez joined New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion to advocate for progressive economic policies during the UN General Assembly.
- Sep 9
Tusk and Costa meet in Warsaw to negotiate EU budget and security funding
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk hosted European Council President António Costa for two hours of talks on the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, balancing defence needs with regional cohesion funding.
