Costa Wants Africa on the UN Security Council
European Council President António Costa received the UNESCO Félix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize today in Abidjan, named in honor of the first head of state of Côte d'Ivoire. The award recognizes individuals or institutions that have made a significant contribution to the cause of peace.
António Costa donated $150 (around €130) to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for “the work it does to guarantee the lives, dignity, security and fundamental rights of millions of displaced people and refugees around the world.
On that occasion, he emphasized that, "faced with a fragmented world, with rules being challenged and countless international dilemmas, it is necessary to remember the strength of these values. We, Africa and Europe, must promote them together, hand in hand, in a partnership for the future."
He also indicated that "receiving this award represents an enormous responsibility", which is "even greater due to the new European functions", in which he promised that he will "continue to defend these values".
During his speech, he argued that Africa must have a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and "fair representation" in international financial institutions, calling for a "partnership for the future" with Europe.
"Without fair representation of the international community in our common institutions, frustrations will only increase and the legitimacy of the institutions will only diminish," said António Costa.
"Africa must have a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, Africa must have fair representation in international financial institutions because, without reforms in the international system, its decline will only accelerate, the distribution of wealth will be even more unfair, and conflict resolution will be even more difficult," he added.
Stressing that the world "does not need pointless conflicts," the President of the European Council considered it "unacceptable that human rights are violated daily, as in Gaza," as Israel marks almost two years since its war against the Islamist group Hamas, which has already caused thousands of deaths and hundreds of injuries due to Israeli attacks.
"We must put an end to this humanitarian catastrophe and work to implement the two-state solution in the Middle East," he urged. Likewise, the Portuguese official added that it is "unacceptable that borders be redrawn by force of arms, as is happening in Ukraine," calling for a "just and lasting peace."
Furthermore, he classified it as "unacceptable that war takes precedence over dialogue, as in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo," appealing to "the goodwill of leaders to end the war and usher in an era of peace."
Picture: © 2025 Malton Dibra / EPA
