MEPs request extension for RRP implementation deadline
Over 30 members of the European Parliament, including João Oliveira of the Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP) and Catarina Martins of the Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda or BE), have written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. They are requesting an extension of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência or RRP) deadline to 2028, citing rising costs and procurement difficulties.
- President of the European Council (since Dec 2024)
- Former Prime Minister of Portugal (November 2015 – April 2024)
- Party: Socialist Party (PS) Partido Socialista
- He is of Portuguese and Indian (Goan) descent
António Luís Santos da Costa (born July 17, 1961, in Lisbon) is a Portuguese lawyer and Socialist politician who served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 2015-2024 and currently serves as President of the European Council since December 1, 2024. After leading the Lisbon Municipal Assembly and practicing law, he was elected MEP (2004-2005) and entered parliament in 2002. He led the Socialist Party from 2014-2024, building unprecedented parliamentary coalitions with the Communist Party and Left Bloc (2015-2019) before winning an absolute majority in 2022. He resigned as PM in November 2023 following a corruption investigation, though subsequently cleared. The 27 EU member states elected him Council President in June 2024, making him the fourth full-time President and the first southern European socialist in that role.
Political Philosophy:
Costa represents moderate European social democracy, combining orthodox fiscal responsibility with progressive social investment. He prioritizes European integration, consensus-building, and pragmatic compromise over ideological confrontation. As Council President, he champions mediation between member states, improved EU inter-institutional relations, shorter decision-making processes, and regular visits to every EU capital to reconnect citizens with European institutions. His approach emphasizes "creative bridges" reconciling divergent interests while maintaining firmness on European values, particularly regarding Ukraine.
The Recovery and Resilience Plan (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência or PRR) is a national program funded by the European Union to support economic recovery and modernization following the COVID-19 pandemic. It allocates billions of euros to projects in areas such as climate transition, digital transformation, and social infrastructure.
