Key facts
- Pedro Lourtie is the chief of staff to European Council President António Costa.
- Lourtie's role involves forging consensus among EU capitals.
- His work has become more challenging.
- Revelations of a diplomatic back channel to Moscow have surfaced.
- Negotiations for the bloc's long-term budget are ongoing.
- The diplomatic landscape is described as tougher.
Pedro Lourtie, serving as chief of staff to European Council President António Costa, is currently navigating a significantly more challenging diplomatic landscape. His primary responsibility involves forging consensus among the European Union's member states, a task that has become increasingly complex. Recent revelations concerning a diplomatic back channel to Moscow have added a layer of difficulty to his diplomatic efforts. Furthermore, Lourtie is actively engaged in negotiations for the bloc's long-term budget, a critical and often contentious process. These combined factors highlight the heightened complexity of his role in securing agreement and advancing EU priorities amidst a tougher geopolitical and internal negotiating environment.