EU GLOBAL GATEWAY -Digital,Energy,Transport

The European Commission and the EU High Representative have set out the Global Gateway, a new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.

The EU is stepping up its offer to its partners with major investments in infrastructure development around the world. Between 2021 and 2027, Team Europe, meaning the EU institutions and EU Member States jointly, will mobilise up to EUR 300 billion of investments in:

  • digital 
  • climate and energy 
  • transport 
  • health 
  • education and research 
”We will support smart investments in quality infrastructure, respecting the highest social and environmental standards, in line with the EU’s values and standards. The Global Gateway strategy is a template for how Europe can build more resilient connections with the world.“

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
President von der Leyen

The Global Gateway will deliver sustainable and high-quality projects, taking into account the needs of partner countries and ensuring lasting benefits for local communities. This will allow EU’s partners to develop their societies and economies, but also create opportunities for the EU Member States’ private sector to invest and remain competitive, whilst ensuring the highest environmental and labour standards, as well as sound financial management.

The Global Gateway is the EU’s contribution to narrowing the global investment gap worldwide. It is in line with the commitment of the G7 leaders from June 2021 to launch a values-driven, high-standard and transparent infrastructure partnership to meet global infrastructure development needs. The Global Gateway is also fully aligned with the UN’s Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the Paris Agreement.

Principles of the Global Gateway

The European model of trusted connectivity in partner countries is long-term and in line with EU’s interests and values: rule of law, human rights and international norms and standards. It is about smart, clean and secure investments in quality infrastructure connecting goods, people and services around the world in a sustainable way

Global Gateway partnerships will be based on 6 principles:

  • democracy
    democratic values and high standards
  • rules
    good governance and transparency
  • partnership
    equal partnerships
  • sustainability
    green and clean
  • security
    security focused
  • Investment
    catalysing private sector investment

Key areas of partnership

Digital sector

DigitalThrough the Global Gateway, the EU will strengthen connections between Europe and the world and help partner countries address the digital divide and further integrate into the global digital ecosystem.

Climate and energy

EnergyInvesting in both mitigation and climate resilience, as well as in clean energy, is a necessity but also a major economic opportunity in low- and middle-income countries. The Global Gateway will support this green transformation, on the way to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and commitments of the Paris Agreement. It will promote green technology exchanges and reinforce energy security.

Transport

TransportThe Global Gateway will promote worldwide infrastructure investments that create sustainable, smart, resilient, inclusive and safe networks in all modes of transport. It will support networks such as the extension of the Trans European Transport Network.

Health

HealthThe Global Gateway will prioritise the security of supply chains and the development of local manufacturing capacities. The EU will be working with partner countries to diversify their pharmaceutical supply chains. The EU will also contribute to addressing international supply chain bottlenecks.  

Education and research

EducationThe EU will invest in quality education, including digital education, paying particular attention to the inclusion of girls and women and other vulnerable groups. It will assist partner countries to transform their education systems and facilitate mobility of students, staff, teachers, and trainees. The EU will work with partner countries to strengthen cooperation on research and innovation.

Sources of financing

  • up to EUR 300 billionin investments until 2027

The Global Gateway will be delivered through a Team Europe approach, which brings together the EU and EU Member States with their financial and development institutions, including the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). It also seeks to mobilise the private sector in order to leverage investments for a transformational impact. 

The Global Gateway draws on the new financial tools in the EU multi-annual financial framework 2021-2027, in particular the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI)-Global Europe, the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) III, the digital and international part of the Connecting Europe Facility, but also Interreg, InvestEU and Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme.

In particular, the European Fund for Sustainable Development+ (EFSD+), the financial arm of NDICI-Global Europe will make available up to EUR 135 billion for guaranteed investments for infrastructure projects between 2021 and 2027. Up to EUR 18 billion will be made available in grant funding from the EU budget. European financial and development finance institutions have up to EUR 145 billion in planned investment volumes. 

In addition, the EU is exploring the possibility of establishing a European Export Credit Facility to complement the existing export credit arrangements at Member State level and increase the EU’s overall firepower in this area. The Facility would help ensure a more level playing field for EU businesses in third country markets, and thus facilitate their participation in infrastructure projects.

The EU will offer not only solid financial conditions for partners, but also promote the highest standards in environmental protection, social affairs and strategic management. The EU will provide technical assistance to partners to enhance their capacity in preparing credible infrastructure projects that ensure value for money.

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