- EU President Antonio Costa
BY OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
EU PRESIDENT António Costa has issued a defiant “hands off” warning over Greenland as he ushered in a massive new era of European expansion.
Speaking in Nicosia to mark Cyprus taking over the EU Presidency, the Brussels bigwig declared that the Arctic territory—which has long been the subject of international tugs-of-war—belongs solely to its people.
”Nothing can be decided about Denmark and about Greenland without Denmark, or without Greenland,” Costa thundered, promising “unwavering” support for the territory’s sovereignty.
The speech signaled a major gear-shift for the bloc in 2026, with Costa revealing a “bold” plan to swallow up new members to create a “geopolitical powerhouse.”
The President confirmed that 2026 will be the “critical moment” for:
UKRAINE: Moving “decisively” toward full membership as part of a peace deal to end the Russian invasion.
MONTENEGRO: Racing to finish entry talks within the next 12 months.
Rapidly expanding the EU’s borders to include Moldova and Western Balkan partners to “deter further aggression.”
But it isn’t just about new members. Costa warned that Europe must be on “defence readiness” as the international order comes under attack.
He praised a fresh deal struck in Paris to give Ukraine the “security guarantees” it needs to stop Putin in his tracks. “Unilateralism is a fast track to conflict and violence,” he warned, pointing to the “gross violation” of international law in Ukraine and Gaza.
While talk of war dominated, the EU chief also had his eyes on the British public’s wallets, promising a “strategic brainstorming” session on February 12 to supercharge the Single Market.
With the EU already boasting trade deals with 78 countries, Costa revealed the bloc is now “making it grow” even further, targeting massive new trade agreements with India, Thailand, Mexico, and the UAE.
Costa heaped praise on Cyprus—the Mediterranean island at the “crossroads” of Europe and the Middle East—vowing that the new presidency would lead the way in sending humanitarian aid to Gaza and stabilizing the region.
