Antonio Maria Costa

Antonio Maria Costa (born 16 June 1941) is an Italian economist. He lives in Vienna and Brussels.

From May 2002 to August 2010 Costa served as an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations to the positions of executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the United Nations Office in Vienna (UNOV). Costa was the first to hold this double tenure for two consecutive 4-year mandates.

Before this, Costa was Secretary General of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) from 1994 to 2002 and EU Director General for Economics and Finance (DGII) at the European Union from 1987 to 1992.

Costa is currently editor-in-chief of the Journal of Policy Modelling.

An Italian native, Costa was born on June 16, 1941. He holds a:

His career history is as follows:

Costa served as executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of The United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) for two consecutive periods from 2002 to 2008. On behalf of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Costa carried out the administrative and managerial responsibilities for the smooth functioning of the biggest UN campus in Europe, resulting in a massive renovation and a large scale expansion.

As Executive Director Costa was in charge of UNODC's drug control program, i.e. assisting countries to contain the drug problem as to supply (production) and demand (addiction), as well as fighting illicit trafficking.