Francisco Seixas da Costa

Francisco Seixas da Costa, GCC, CMG, (Vila Real, 1948) is a retired Portuguese diplomat. He was also member of Portuguese governments. He is now consultant in the private sector and media commentator on international affairs.

Francisco Seixas da Costa
Francisco Seixas da Costa

Main official functions

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  • 1975-2013 - Career diplomat, Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
  • 1979-1982 - Embassy of Portugal in Oslo, Norway;
  • 1982-1986 - Embassy of Portugal in Luanda, Angola;
  • 1986-1987 - Head of Division, European Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lisbon;
  • 1987-1990 - Adviser to the Secretary of State for Development Co-operation, Lisbon;
  • 1990-1994 - Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Portugal in London, UK;
  • 1994-1995 - Deputy Director-General for European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lisbon;
  • 1995-2001 - Secretary of State (Deputy Foreign Minister) for European Affairs, Lisbon;
  • 2001-2002 - Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York;
  • 2002-2004 - Permanent Representative to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Vienna;
  • 2004-2008 - Ambassador to Brazil.
  • 2009-2013 - Ambassador to France.
  • 2010-2013 - Also ambassador to Monaco.
  • 2012-2013 - Also Permanent Representative to UNESCO (United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture)

Other official functions

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  • 1987-1989 - Portuguese chief negotiator of Lomé IV convention
  • 1990-1993 - Deputy permanent representative to the Western European Union (WEU)
  • 1995-2001 - Head of the Portuguese delegations to the Council of Europe (CoE), the Organisation for Economic and Development Co-Operation (OECD) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meetings
  • 1995/97 - Portuguese chief negotiator of the EU Amsterdam treaty
  • 1997 - President of the Committee of ministers of the Schengen Agreement
  • 2000 - President of the Council of ministers of the EU Internal Market
  • 2000 - Portuguese chief negotiator of the EU Nice treaty
  • 2001 - Vice-president of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
  • 2001/02 - Chairman of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial affairs) of the 56th UN General Assembly
  • 2002- Vice-president elected of the 57th UN General Assembly
  • 2002 - President of the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europa (OSCE)
  • 2001/02 - Member of the Board of the United Nations Fund for Internationals Partnerships
  • 2013/2014 - Executive Director of the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe

Other functions

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  • 2009/13 - President of the General Council of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro University (UTAD)
  • 2010/18 - Member of the Consultative Council of the School of Economics, University of Coimbra
  • 2011/13 - Member of the General Council of Guimarães - European Capital of Culture 2012
  • 2013/18 - Member of the Consultative Council, Universidade Nova de Lisboa
  • 2013/18 - Member of the Consultative Council, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
  • 2014/18 - Invited professor, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa
  • 2015/18 - Invited professor, Universidade Europeia, Lisbon
  • 2018/21 - Member of the Independent General Council, Radio e Televisão de Portugal S. A., Lisbon

Current functions

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  • Since 2013 - Member of the Board of Directors, Jerónimo Martins.
  • Since 2018 - Member of the Board of Directors, Mota-Engil.
  • Since 2018 - Chairman of the Advisory Council, Kearney Portugal
  • Since 2020 - Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Philipp Morris Portugal
  • Since 2021 - CNN Portugal commentator in international affairs
  • Since 2016 - Member of the Advisory Council, Chancery for Civil Merit Orders, Presidency of Republic, Lisbon
  • Since 2019 - Chairman of the think tank "Club of Lisbon - Global Challenges"

Bibliography

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  • "Diplomacia Europeia - Instituições, Alargamento e o Futuro da União" ("European Diplomacy - the institutions, the enlargement and the future of the Union"), Lisbon, 2002;
  • "Uma Segunda Opinião - Notas de Política Externa e Diplomacia" ("A Second Opinion - Notes on External Policy and Diplomacy"), Lisbon, 2006;
  • "As Vésperas e a Alvorada de Abril" ("The vespers and the April dawn"), Brasília, 2007;
  • "Tanto Mar? - Portugal, o Brasil e a Europa" ("So much sea? - Portugal, Brazil and Europe"), Brasília, 2008.
  • "Apontamentos" ("Notes"), Lisbon, 2008.
  • A Cidade Imaginária” ("Imaginary City"), Vila Real, 2021.
  • "Antes que me esqueça - a diplomacia e a vida ("Before I forget - Diplomacy and Life"), Lisbon, 2023.

References

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