The President of the European Council, António Costa, will visit in the coming weeks—from August 25 to September 17, 2026—the leaders of the EU member states in their capitals, as part of the established annual tour known as the “Tour des Capitales.” According to information from CNA, he is expected to visit Cyprus at the end of the second week, September 1–4, immediately after his stop in Greece.
As was the case last year, these meetings aim to gather the views of heads of state or government, with a particular focus on the Union’s next multiannual budget, and will contribute to the preparation of upcoming European Council meetings and international summits.
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“Defense, competitiveness, enlargement, and support for Ukraine will be at the center of my discussions with European leaders” during the upcoming annual tour, Costa notes.
“However, the EU’s next multiannual budget is expected to stand out. These meetings offer a vital 360-degree view of the member states’ priorities and expectations, ensuring that the work of the European Council continues to reflect European reality,” added the President of the European Council.
According to the schedule already announced for the first week of his tour, the President of the European Council will meet on August 25 with the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Róper Fico, in Bratislava, and with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kristen Michal, in Tallinn.
On August 26, Mr. Costa will travel to Riga to meet with the Prime Minister of Latvia, Andris Kulbergs, and then to Vilnius, where he will meet with the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda. To conclude the first week, on August 27, he will meet with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babiš, in Prague.
Costa is in Kyiv today, Monday, where he will participate in the Alliance of the Willing summit representing the EU, while on the train late Sunday he met with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, on their joint trip to the Ukrainian capital to celebrate the 35th anniversary of independence.
