Antonio Costa Draws Attention at India–EU Trade Deal Signing, Highlights Deep Personal Ties to India

New Delhi As India and the European Union signed what has been described as a historic free trade agreement, one moment stood out beyond the formalities of diplomacy.

European Council President António Costa captured attention by publicly highlighting his personal connection to India, describing the landmark pact as deeply meaningful not only politically, but also personally.

At the signing ceremony in New Delhi, Costa held up his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, drawing applause from the audience as he proudly declared his Goan roots. Referring to the agreement—often described as the “mother of all trade deals”—Costa said the occasion resonated with him on multiple levels.

“I am the President of the European Council, but I am also an Overseas Citizen of India,” Costa said. “That gives this moment a special significance for me. I am deeply proud of my roots in Goa. My father’s family comes from there. The relationship between Europe and India is not merely political for me—it is profoundly personal.”

Roots in Goa, A Bridge Between Continents

António Costa, a former Prime Minister of Portugal, was born in Lisbon in 1961. His father, Orlando António Fernandes da Costa, hailed from Margao (Madgaon) in Goa. Costa’s ancestors were part of Goa’s Catholic community during the period of Portuguese rule, and his grandfather was both born and raised in the coastal state.

Though raised in Portugal, Costa has often spoken about how Goan culture shaped his upbringing. Through his father’s writings, Konkani expressions, and traditional Goan cuisine such as sorpotel, he maintained a strong emotional connection to his heritage.

In Goa, Costa is affectionately referred to as “Babush,” a Konkani term meaning “beloved child,” reflecting the warmth with which he is embraced by the local community.

A Personal Return to Madgaon

In 2017, Costa made a personal visit to Goa, during which he spent time at his ancestral home on Abade Faria Road in Margao and met extended family members. That visit, he has said, reinforced his emotional bond with the land of his forefathers.

It is this enduring connection, observers noted, that set Costa apart as he stood at the centre of one of the world’s most significant contemporary trade agreements. His remarks underscored how shared histories and personal identities can quietly shape global diplomacy—transforming formal partnerships into relationships grounded in lived experience.