Handover ceremony for the Presidency of the European Council

The official handover between the outgoing president, Charles Michel, and António Costa, the former Portuguese prime minister chosen from the member states to succeed the Belgian on Friday.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and the Vice President of the European Parliament, Pina Picierno, were also present at the symbolic bell ceremony, the “sceptre” used by the President of the European Council to open and close summits with EU heads of state and government.

 Costa’s first engagement will be as early as Monday, December 2, when the leader will meet von der Leyen and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.