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Pedro Lourtie, the Portuguese ambassador to the European Union, is set to become the chief of staff for António Costa when he takes over as president of the European Council, three EU officials briefed on the expected appointment said.
EU leaders agreed last month on the EU’s top jobs, paving the way for a second term for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Estonia’s Kaja Kallas for EU foreign policy chief, and Costa as European Council president. The former Portuguese prime minister will take on his new role on December 1, but is already assembling his team.
Lourtie has been the Portuguese ambassador to the EU since 2022. Before that, he was the deputy ambassador for five years. During that time, he chaired the meetings of deputy ambassadors during the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU in 2021. Before taking on diplomatic postings, he served as diplomatic adviser and chief of staff to previous Portuguese prime ministers.
David Oppenheimer, who was Costa’s sherpa (an official who works in the prime minister’s office and deals with relations with his peers in other capitals), is expected to be the deputy head of cabinet. `
Lourtie and Oppenheimer did not respond to requests for comment.
Eddy Wax contributed reporting.
