Costa Joins Global Leaders in Defence of Multilateral System

European Council President António Costa has co-authored a joint opinion piece alongside Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Kenyan President William Ruto, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Published by the European Council, the article centres on a shared message: "Multilateralism is not idealism, it’s a necessity." The publication brings together the head of the EU institution representing member state governments with leaders spanning North America, South America, and Africa to argue that international cooperation remains essential for managing global affairs.

For citizens outside the diplomatic circuit, international cooperation can easily look like an abstract exercise conducted in formal summit rooms. However, the international agreements and rules negotiated through multilateral channels directly shape global trade, climate targets, and supply chain standards that affect daily prices and consumer protections. When global leaders issue a collective defense of multilateral systems, it reflects an attempt to preserve the rules-based framework that prevents trade disputes and international disagreements from devolving into uncoordinated national barriers.

In Brussels, a joint op-ed signed by the President of the European Council—the institutional body composed of the heads of state or government of all 27 EU member states—is a classic instrument of soft diplomacy. Drafted to project shared purpose across continents, such articles allow EU leadership to demonstrate international alignment without undergoing the laborious, comma-by-comma drafting process required for official Council conclusions. Partnering with major players from the Global South and North America allows Brussels to position itself as a central bridge-builder in international governance, even as the global multilateral machinery frequently grinds under diplomatic friction.

Following the publication of the joint piece, the focus turns to whether the shared diplomatic messaging can produce concrete cooperation. While joint declarations establish common ground on paper, translating general principles into binding policy will depend on upcoming international negotiations, bilateral meetings, and multilateral summits where the signatories must turn high-level consensus into workable agreements.