Portugal's Antonio Costa is set to start his mandate as EU Council President after he attended on Friday (November 29) the European Council presidency handover ceremony in Brussels, Reuters reports.
The former Portuguese Prime minister, who is officially taking office on December 1, 2024, received the bell from the outgoing EU Council chief Charles Michel.
Costa vowed to build unity and cherish Europe's natural diversity 'every day' of his mandate.
Costa, 63, stepped down as Portugal's prime minister last November over an investigation into alleged illegalities in his government's handling of several large investment projects.
He has denied wrongdoing, was never charged with a crime.
In his role, Costa - a centre-left moderate Socialist - will have to build bridges between heads of state and government in a fragmented Europe with the far right on the rise.
