He is a Portuguese lawyer and politician, former Minister and was a Member of the European Parliament for the Socialist Party (PES), heading the list after the dramatic death of top candidate António de Sousa Franco.
On July 20, 2004 he was elected as one of the 14 Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament. He resigned as an MEP on 11 March 2005 to become Minister of State and Administration in the government of José Sócrates.
António Costa resigned to all government offices in May 2007 to become his party's candidate to the municipality of Lisbon.
He was elected as Lisbon's Mayor in July 15, 2007.
