ALEXANDRE MONIZ BARBOSA
PANJIM: Last month, politico.eu commenced a feature article on the new president of the European Union Council with the words: ‘When António Costa takes office as president of the European Council on Dec. 1, he will become the first person from an ethnic minority to head one of the European Union’s most important institutions.’ It goes on to state that ‘the former Portuguese prime minister, who is of Goan-Mozambican descent, said he was keen to use his Indian heritage to redefine Europe’s often unequal relationship with Asia, Africa and South America.’
As Costa makes the big shift from Lisbon to Brussels, as president of the EU Council on December 1, there appears to be considerable interest in not just how he will helm the Council, but also in his ancestry, as mention of his Indian roots has cropped up in the European media.
An article on Financial Times states, ‘Costa’s Indian heritage through his part-Goan father makes him the first person with non-European roots to be elected president of any of the EU’s three major institutions. But he has been reticent to talk up this landmark, he says, because he has never made too much of his identity. “It was never unusual for me in Portugal. The first time I really realised the relevance of my roots is when I was elected mayor of Lisbon, and my photo was on the front page of all Indian newspapers,” he recalls. “And when I became the first prime minister of Indian origin in Europe, before [Britain’s Rishi] Sunak and [Ireland’s Leo] Varadkar, I was not anymore only on the front page of the newspapers, but on all the television channels, the magazines,” he laughs.’
He may not have made too much of his identity, but the media, now that he is the EU Council president, appears interested in it. Euro News, reporting on the handover ceremony that took place on Friday last, too made a mention of Costa’s heritage, concluding the report with, ‘Costa, whose father was half French-Mozambican and half Indian, is the first person of colour to occupy a top job in the bloc’s history.’
AFP, in the past week released a report that appeared on several sites where it says, ‘Costa’s ascent to the top of the EU marks the first time someone with non-European heritage will take over one of the bloc’s top slots. His father, communist writer Orlando da Costa, was born in Mozambique to a family originally hailing from Goa, Portugal’s former colony in India. Nicknamed “Babush”, a term of endearment for a little boy in Goa, Lisbon-born Costa did not play much on his mixed origins during his political career at home.’
Readers in Goa are well aware of the nickname Babush, and will possibly smile at it, as it is quite a common endearment in the State. They are also well aware of Costa’s political ascent up the ladder in Portugal, and now Europe, as it has been widely reported in the media in Goa and India. From Mayor of Lisbon to Prime Minister of Portugal to now European Union Council President, it has been an illustrious career, avidly followed here.
Despite having paid, but brief visits to Goa, the former Portuguese Prime Minister has not swept aside his Goan and Indian heritage. As is known, Costa holds an Overseas Citizen of India card, one that he received from the Indian Prime Minister. And referring to that he told Financial Times, ‘Now I realise that.’
The AFP report, also referring to the OCI card stated ‘Those close to him now say his background could help him appeal to parts of the globe the EU struggles to reach as he represents the bloc on the world stage.’
Besides the OCI card he holds, Costa was also honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Overseas Indian Award), the highest Indian award for Overseas Indians, honouring exceptional and meritorious contribution in their profession.
India, and Goa in particular, will be waiting to see how Costa can use his Indian heritage to bring Europe closer to Asia, Africa and South America.
What is the role of EU COUNCIL President?
The Council of the EU represents the member States’ governments. The President presides over meetings, ensures continuity of activities and represents the EU at the highest level on the international stage.
In Goa, Dr Anotnio Costa is not known as Babush, but as the son of Goan writer Orlando da Costa, best known for his book O Signo da Ira (Sign of Wrath). As PM of Portugal, during an official visit to India, Costa had briefly visited Goa in January 2017, and been welcomed warmly, stopping by also at his ancestral house in Margao. He was then presented with the English translation of his father’s book, ‘Sign of Wrath’.