The President of the European Council today honored the current UN Secretary-General and argued that the successor should be ambitious and firmly committed to international law, such as “as António Guterres”, whose work describes as “true lighthouse”.
© Lusa
24/09/2026
by
Lusa
“ Athe United Nations needs an ambitious leader, firmly committed to the principles of its Charter and respect for international law, such as António Guterres,” said António Costa at the UN General Assembly Debate in New York.
“I want to pay tribute here to the Secretary-General. His tireless efforts to defend the Charter of the United Nations, to protect human rights, to reform global financial architecture, to promote sustainable development and to take decisive measures on climate change have been a real beacon, illuminating our path and guiding our collective commitment,” said former Portuguese socialist Prime Minister (2015-2024).
Guterres, who led a socialist government in Portugal between 1995 and 2002, took the leadership of the UN in January 2017, having been re-elected to a second term of five years, which ends in December.
According to the President of the European Council, the next Secretary-General must continue to fully mobilise all the instruments at his disposal to prevent conflicts, mediate crises and build peace, “with particular attention to Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan”.
“The strength of tomorrow’s multilateral system depends on this commitment,” he stressed.
So far, there are seven candidates to succeed Guterres, with several Member States arguing that the next person to lead the UN is a woman, a scenario that has never occurred in 80 years of history.
Many countries also hope that the next Secretary-General will be able to help the organisation dispel the moment of multifaceted crisis it is going through.
In his speech to the UN, Costa went out in defense of multilateralism, arguing that it is not an ideal of the past, but the only realistic way to address today's problems.
“Alone, no country can prevent a pandemic, stabilize the climate, guarantee resilient supply chains, regulate Artificial Intelligence, ensure financial stability or promote sustainable development,” he said.
“Alone, no country, however powerful, can build a lasting peace. That is why our message is clear: we need multilateralism”, Costa insisted.
The former Portuguese Prime Minister argued that the United Nations should remain at the heart of the multilateral system, even if it admits that they are under pressure from geopolitical polarisation, financial constraints and institutional shortcomings.
“ But the answer is not withdrawal. The answer is to reform, renew and reinvest ", argued.
In New York, Costa also argued that there can be no two weights and two measures in international law, warning of deliberate violations of international law.
“ Defending international law is not optional. It's our responsibility. This means protecting the institutions that give meaning to these principles, namely the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. We firmly support them and will defend their independence, integrity and ability to fully fulfil their mandates,” he assured.
Not to mention specific cases, António Costa considered that threats and attacks against the International Criminal Court, its officials and staff were unacceptable.
“The responsibility cannot depend on considerations of political convenience. International law applies everywhere. International humanitarian law applies everywhere. Human rights apply everywhere,” he said.
In relation to the conflict that strikes Europe, Costa has considered it unacceptable that in the last 12 months Russia has repeatedly threatened the security of the Member States of the European Union.
It therefore urged the international community to use all available means of pressure against Russia to end the war in Ukraine and to create the conditions for negotiations.
The same applies to the Middle East, he said, regretting the current deadlock in Gaza.
The President of the European Council also stood up for efforts to resolve the conflict in Iran and considered it “essential that Iran should never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons”.
“The European Union is clear about its choice. Cooperation rather than confrontation. Right instead of power. Partnership instead of isolation. Action instead of paralysis. We are ready to work together with all those who share this conviction. Let's remodel. Let's renew. Let's reinvest. And we will act. Together”, Costa concluded.