António Costa, the incoming President of the European Council, has stressed the importance of expanding the European Union to include the Western Balkans, calling it vital for peace and security in Europe. In his speech at the inauguration ceremony, Costa, who will succeed Charles Michel, highlighted the need for both the EU and candidate countries to work together efficiently, cutting through bureaucracy and avoiding unnecessary deadlines.
“Enlargement in the Western Balkans is a powerful tool for peace, security, and prosperity – and a geopolitical necessity,” Costa said. He emphasised that both the EU and the candidate nations must act quickly, without being held back by artificial timelines or unnecessary obstacles.
Costa also pointed to the wider global context, noting that the world is becoming increasingly multipolar, with 193 countries across seven continents. In this changing environment, Costa argued that the EU must strengthen its global role by promoting multilateral cooperation. He urged Europe to move beyond old divisions like the “Global South” and “Global North,” recognising that both regions are complex and diverse.
“The EU’s foreign action must recognise that both the South and the North are, in fact, plural,” Costa said. “This means the EU must be a partner for a global, multilateral, sustainable, and peaceful future.”
Costa reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to shared prosperity for all its citizens. He urged EU institutions and member states to act decisively, complete the Single Market, reduce bureaucracy, and invest in innovation and skills. He also called for turning challenges like defence and energy into opportunities for growth and competitiveness.
“As we move forward, it is up to us, the institutions and member states, to make decisions,” Costa said. “We must complete the Single Market, reduce bureaucracy, invest in skills and innovation, and turn challenges such as defence and energy into opportunities to increase competitiveness.”
