Overview

• European Council president António Costa received the Premio Fórum Europa at Madrid’s Teatro Real in a ceremony presided over by King Felipe VI.
• Costa said the EU aspires for the United States to remain a great ally while it defends a model grounded in democracy, equality and multilateralism.
• He called for greater strategic autonomy with higher defence investment to address the war in Ukraine, the climate crisis and global geopolitical competition.
• Costa warned that if allies inspire less trust and adversaries heighten threats, the European Union must be able to fend for itself.
• Notable attendees included Spain’s vice president Yolanda Díaz, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo, former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and European Parliament president Roberta Metsola.