Meet Pedro Lourtie, the EU’s Chief Dealmaker Behind the Scenes
European Council President António Costa’s chief of staff Pedro Lourtie is the man ensuring leaders leave summits with agreements, but his recent outreach to Russia has stirred controversy.
The Quiet Diplomat
Pedro Lourtie, chief of staff to European Council President António Costa, is the key figure responsible for building consensus among EU member states before high-stakes summits. He and his team make hundreds of calls and hold dozens of meetings to ensure leaders leave Brussels with a deal. However, the June 18 summit, originally set to address the threat from China to EU industries, was shaken by news that Lourtie himself had opened a diplomatic back channel with Moscow – the first confirmed contact since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Balancing Act
Lourtie’s role is to advance Brussels’ priorities while staying attuned to all 27 capitals. He says he genuinely enjoys being a broker. But his calls to Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov sparked frustration among some member states, notably France and Germany, which criticized Costa’s team. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal called the move premature and misguided. Lourtie later briefed EU ambassadors at a Coreper meeting to ease tensions.
Commission Ties
Lourtie maintains an unusually close relationship with Bjoern Seibert, chief of staff to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They speak several times a day, have regular working dinners, and hold Sunday meetings to plan ahead. This cooperation contrasts sharply with the openly hostile dynamic under Costa’s predecessor, Charles Michel.
Future Challenges
Costa’s team faces a daunting task: securing agreement on the €1.8 trillion long-term budget by year-end. While former Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán has left the stage, a populist surge still threatens consensus. Slovakia’s Robert Fico, Czechia’s Andrej Babiš, and Bulgaria’s Rumen Radev now form a new “awkward squad,” blocking decisions on green policy and Ukraine aid. Lourtie’s ability to keep member states on board will be critical.
