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.

Main official functions

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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

 * 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"