During a break in proceedings at February¡¯s European leaders¡¯ summit, the Dutch premier approached his Portuguese counterpart with a can of beer and a smile.
Mark Rutte handed over a popular Belgian brew to Antonio Costa with an acknowledgment that the government in Lisbon had surprised him, according to a person with knowledge of the exchange. After Portugal¡¯s public debt hit 134% of GDP during the COVID-19 pandemic, Costa had bet his fiscally conservative colleague that he¡¯d get it back below 100% and, to the Dutchman¡¯s amazement, he¡¯d managed it.
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