António Costa (born 17 July 1961 in Lisbon) is the President of the European Council since 1 December 2024. He previously served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 2015 to 2024, leading the Socialist Party to three successive mandates. A lawyer by training, Costa studied at the University of Lisbon, where he earned a law degree, followed by postgraduate studies in European studies and arbitration. His political career has included roles as Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Minister of Justice (1999–2002), Minister of Internal Administration (2005–2007), and Mayor of Lisbon (2007–2015). He was Secretary-General of the Socialist Party from 2014 until his election as European Council President.
