| Welcome to the weekend issue of Brussels Edition, Bloomberg's daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union. Join us on Saturdays for deeper dives from our bureaus across Europe. LISBON — On a daytime TV show in May, Antonio Costa was given a present: a 2,000 piece puzzle showing various landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower. Doing puzzles "is one of the most relaxing things that exists," the former Portuguese prime minister said, adding that he once did one with 23,000 pieces. Costa will need that kind of patience in his next role, as head of the European Council, where he will need to broker compromises between the 27 member states. Outgoing council head Charles Michel acknowledged this talent earlier this year, noting Costa took part in 74 EU summits. "We will miss your good humor and problem-solving skills," he wrote as Costa was about to step down as premier.  Donald Tusk, Poland's prime minister, left, and Costa, during the EU summit on March 22, 2024. Photographer: Simon Wohlfahrt/Bloomberg Ahead of formally succeeding Michel in December, Costa is touring almost all 27 European capitals to renew his relationships. He's taking over as Europe finds itself stretched across different challenges, including an aggressive Russia, a German economy that's struggling to grow, political instability in France, questions about European competitiveness and promises of EU enlargement. At an event in Lisbon in June, sitting next to former European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, Costa said the world has grown and Europe has shrunk. "We have two great allies: the UK, the US. But we need to multiply our friendships in the world," he said, adding that Europe has to look at New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Korea, as well as Africa, Latin America and Canada. And then there's the risk of a second Donald Trump presidency. Looking at the programs of Kamala Harris and Trump, who raves about tariffs, Costa said in July that Harris is "clearly" someone who would reinforce transatlantic relations, according to the Lusa news agency. Costa, 63, will assume the council presidency only a year after unexpectedly resigning as prime minister amid a probe into alleged influence peddling related to projects including a planned data center. He denies wrongdoing and hasn't been named a person of interest as part of that investigation.  Emmanuel Macron, France's president, Andrzej Duda, Poland's president, Olaf Scholz, Germany's chancellor, and Costa, left to right, at the NATO summit in Vilnius on July 11, 2023. Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg He is known as an experienced political player: After placing second in an election in 2015, he ousted a center-right minority government by negotiating an unprecedented alliance in parliament with the Communists and a far-left party. While many doubted that Costa's minority Socialist administration would survive as it promised to reverse austerity while narrowing the budget deficit, that government completed its four-year term. In subsequent terms he faced new challenges, including anger over housing and a pay controversy at state-owned airline TAP. The quick turn of events in Portugal a year ago has now set up the former Lisbon mayor to test his skills in Brussels, on a larger board with bigger moving pieces. — Joao Lima, Lisbon bureau chief | 
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