European Council President António Costa was welcomed to Castille on Thursday morning, as Malta became the latest stop on his “Tour des Capitales” across the European Union.Prime Minister Robert Abela greeted Costa in Castille Square, where an Armed Forces of Malta parade and marching band marked the European Council president’s arrival.The two leaders then headed inside the Office of the Prime Minister for a private “working brunch”, ahead of a statement to the media.Journalists were allowed to listen in to the opening minutes of their conversation, during which Abela immediately flagged differences over the EU’s upcoming long-term budget.“Regarding the multi-annual financial framework, we have a different perspective from the Germans,” Abela told Costa.The EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework sets out the bloc’s long-term spending priorities, making negotiations over the next budget a key issue for member states.And those discussions are among the main reasons behind Costa’s tour.The European Council president is visiting capitals across the bloc to meet heads of government and discuss the EU’s agenda, with particular attention being given to the forthcoming long-term budget.The meetings are also intended to lay the groundwork for upcoming European Council meetings and international summits.Valletta is one of three European capitals on Costa’s itinerary on Thursday.Following his meeting with Abela, he is set to travel to Madrid to meet Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez before heading to Lisbon for talks with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.Later in the week, Costa will travel north to Rovaniemi for a meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.For Malta, however, the first indication of what will be on the table at Castille was already clear from Abela’s opening remarks, the government intends to make its position heard as negotiations over the EU’s next long-term budget take shape.•