Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
European Council President António Costa spoke in Zagreb alongside Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković during his Tour des Capitales, focused on the future EU budget, enlargement and Ukraine.
Costa said the European Council works better when every national perspective is heard before leaders meet together. He described this longer road as the safest path to unity.
He warned that Europe now faces a decisive milestone: reaching agreement on the EU budget for 2028–2034 before the end of the year.
Costa said a delayed budget decision would create real problems for citizens and businesses: a farmer without a payment, a company without a contract, a student without a grant, a laboratory without funding.
He said the geopolitical environment is fundamentally different from 2020, and the next EU budget must reflect this new reality with a new structure and new priorities.
The future budget, he said, must give the EU the capacity to act and invest in defence, security, competitiveness, innovation and strategic resilience, while continuing to support cohesion and agriculture as pillars of regional development and shared prosperity.
Costa also stressed that there is no unlimited budget, and that new European own resources will be decisive to reach a balanced agreement without placing excessive pressure on national budgets.
On enlargement, he said Croatia has a special voice because it was the most recent country to join the EU. He described bringing the Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine into the Union as the strongest investment in Europe’s security and prosperity.
On Ukraine, Costa expressed solidarity with Germany after the recent attack in Leipzig and warned Russia not to escalate or extend its war.
His message was clear: Russia’s threats and hybrid attacks will not change Europe’s position. The EU will continue supporting Ukraine because its stance is based on international law, sovereignty, territorial integrity and peace.
#eudebates #Costa #EUBudget #Ukraine
European Council President António Costa spoke in Zagreb alongside Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković during his Tour des Capitales, focused on the future EU budget, enlargement and Ukraine.
Costa said the European Council works better when every national perspective is heard before leaders meet together. He described this longer road as the safest path to unity.
He warned that Europe now faces a decisive milestone: reaching agreement on the EU budget for 2028–2034 before the end of the year.
Costa said a delayed budget decision would create real problems for citizens and businesses: a farmer without a payment, a company without a contract, a student without a grant, a laboratory without funding.
He said the geopolitical environment is fundamentally different from 2020, and the next EU budget must reflect this new reality with a new structure and new priorities.
The future budget, he said, must give the EU the capacity to act and invest in defence, security, competitiveness, innovation and strategic resilience, while continuing to support cohesion and agriculture as pillars of regional development and shared prosperity.
Costa also stressed that there is no unlimited budget, and that new European own resources will be decisive to reach a balanced agreement without placing excessive pressure on national budgets.
On enlargement, he said Croatia has a special voice because it was the most recent country to join the EU. He described bringing the Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine into the Union as the strongest investment in Europe’s security and prosperity.
On Ukraine, Costa expressed solidarity with Germany after the recent attack in Leipzig and warned Russia not to escalate or extend its war.
His message was clear: Russia’s threats and hybrid attacks will not change Europe’s position. The EU will continue supporting Ukraine because its stance is based on international law, sovereignty, territorial integrity and peace.
#eudebates #Costa #EUBudget #Ukraine
