European Council President António Costa underscored the importance of maintaining a “rules-based order” and the necessity of Ukraine’s future accession to the European Union during a Bloomberg Television interview on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Costa’s remarks came ahead of an informal meeting of EU leaders scheduled for Thursday in Alden Biesen, Belgium.
Speaking with Bloomberg TV’s Chief Europe Correspondent Oliver Crook, Costa emphasized the necessitate for Europe to bolster its competitiveness and strengthen its defense capabilities. He did not elaborate on specific strategies for achieving these goals in the interview, details of which were reported by Getty Images.
Costa’s comments on Ukraine’s potential EU membership align with ongoing discussions regarding the country’s path toward integration with the bloc. A historic trade deal between the EU and India, signed this week, was also a topic of discussion, with Costa acknowledging the need for ratification by EU member states, the European Parliament, and the Indian cabinet, as reported by Euronews. The deal will reduce tariffs on a range of goods, though concessions were made to protect European farming communities by maintaining tariffs on beef, and chicken.
The European Council President’s focus on a “rules-based order” reflects broader concerns about geopolitical stability and the potential for disruption to international norms. The EU is also considering its own satellite network, potentially as a counterweight to Elon Musk’s Starlink, with a projected operational date of 2029, according to a statement made at the European Space Conference and reported by Euronews.
Costa’s appearance on Bloomberg Television precedes Thursday’s informal EU leaders meeting, where these and other critical issues are expected to be further debated. No specific agenda items from the Alden Biesen meeting have been publicly released.
