"My mission is […] to defend Portugal's interests and ensure that Portugal actively participates in the central decision-making process", says Pedro Costa Pereira in an interview with Lusa news agency in Brussels.

Just over two weeks into his role, the official stresses that, despite the country's geographical limitations and its small size, “there is nothing that prevents the capacity for initiative, for always seeking to be at the centre of decision-making, especially in those dossiers that are important” for Portugal, such as cohesion, social inclusion, competitiveness and economic convergence.

“We are on the eve of entering a new phase, which is particularly important, that of defining the next multiannual financial framework, and obviously this dimension will be very important […] and we want to be in the championship of economic growth”, he argues.

According to Pedro Costa Pereira, “without [economic] growth and competitiveness, it is difficult to ensure that there is effective cohesion”, even though Portugal is one of the 27 EU Member States that benefits most from this type of funding.

The official takes office at a time when the EU is beginning discussions on how to finance joint investments, such as investing in the defence industry and trying to remain competitive against its main competitors, China and the United States.

Last Monday, the report by former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Community competitiveness was published in Brussels, in which he advocates a regular issuance of common debt in the EU, as happened after the Covid-19 pandemic, and a large investment in Defence.

Mario Draghi estimates that the annual need for additional investment in the EU area is 800 billion euros, equivalent to more than 4% of the EU's GDP (double that achieved after the Second World War with the Marshall Plan), within the scope of a new Community industrial strategy.

Speaking about the report, Pedro Costa Pereira told Lusa that “a major debate is now beginning at the European level, which is difficult but cannot be avoided”, on how to finance such investment.

One of the investments, that of Defence, “is also inescapable and is not only related to the new geopolitical situation” due to the war in Ukraine caused by the Russian invasion, says the ambassador, adding that this financing should be “an opportunity” for European industry.

At the age of 61, Pedro Costa Pereira has been the new Portuguese ambassador to the European Union since the end of last August, succeeding Pedro Lourtie, who left this role to become chief of staff to the future President of the European Council, António Costa.

Before heading the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union, Pedro Costa Pereira was the Portuguese ambassador to NATO, a position he had held since 2019.