How Pedro Lourtie became the EU’s dealmaker in chief

Council President António Costa's chief of staff is in charge of building consensus between capitals. It's a job that's only getting harder.

By GABRIEL GAVINin Brussels

Illustration by Natália Delgado/POLITICO

BRUSSELS — When the motorcades carrying the EU’s presidents and prime ministers pull into Brussels for high-stakes negotiations every few months, it’s Pedro Lourtie’s job to make sure they leave with a deal.

In the weeks leading up to a European Council — the summits where leaders hammer out responses to trade wars and armed conflicts — the studiously polite, grey-maned career diplomat and his team have already made hundreds of calls and held dozens of meetings so they can go home with a result.