António Costa defends the EU’s commitment to “true multipolar network”

“ ANDwe're building a real multipolar network. This global projection shows that the north and the south are plural and are working together to build long-term commitments, based on mutual interests, and instead of spheres of influence, we are building networks of economic and political cooperation,” said António Costa.

The President of the European Council referred to strengthening EU relations with partners from different regions such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, South Korea, African countries, Latin America and Central Asia.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the College of Europe’s academic year on the Natolin campus in Warsaw, the former Portuguese Prime Minister considered that “this is the best way for the EU to defend multilateralism and international law and promote peace and prosperity”.

“It is also the best way for the EU to promote its shared interests and values and demonstrates that we are not alone in the world, we are not isolated – we have many friends around the world,” he added.

Speaking about the EU enlargement process, António Costa recalled: “We looked again at the 1980s, when Greece, Portugal and Spain, emerging from decades under dictatorship, consolidated their democracies and increased their prosperity through their integration into what the European Communities were then.”.

The position arises one day before the European Commission discloses the review of the pre-enlargement policy, assessing the impact of a future wave of enlargement on the EU's own policies and what the Union will have to change in order to receive new members.

For the President of the European Council, enlargement is “the best geostrategic investment” in the future of the EU.

Costa highlighted the results of the previous enlargements, stating that over the past 22 years they have added more than 100 million people to the Union and increased the common economy by more than two billion euros.

Countries that have joined since 2004 have more than doubled their economies, while the new Member States have created 26 million jobs, more than six million of which in the countries that have joined the EU.

“ Each enlargement strengthened Europe and extended the area of peace, stability and prosperity,” he stressed.

The President of the European Council highlighted the new dynamism created by Ukraine's application for membership, which, he said, also extends to Moldova and the six Western Balkan partners.

“ The future of these countries lies within the EU, with a merit-based approach to accession that ensures the highest standards for all,” he said.

António Costa also stressed that each candidate should be assessed individually, according to his progress and achievements, and that everyone should share the values and objectives of the EU.

As regards Ukraine and Moldova, it requested the opening of all the accession negotiating groups for both countries by the end of the year, provided that the necessary conditions were met.

“ We must overcome a history of division and fragmentation and embrace once and for all a shared European future,” he said.

The enlargement process is the mechanism by which European countries wishing to join the European Union are assessed and supported in adopting EU rules, standards and values.

There are currently 10 EU candidate countries at different stages of the accession process.