Global Gateway: Council Adopts Conclusions on the EU's Global Investment and Partnership Strategy
Explanatory Statement
Since 2021, the Global Gateway strategy has been a comprehensive initiative by the EU for its partner countries, based on the “NDICI/Europe in the World” instrument. Global Gateway is the EU’s global investment strategy, designed to mobilise public and private funds to close the global investment gap in the areas of digitalisation, climate and energy, transportation, health, education, and research. The strategy’s goal is to advance the priorities of partner countries and the EU’s strategic interests, thereby contributing to resilience, competitiveness, economic security, strategic autonomy, and value chains. The Global Gateway strategy is based on European values and standards and is consistent with global commitments such as the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015 at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) by nearly all countries in the world.
General Recommendations
To ensure the successful implementation of the Global Gateway strategy, the Council calls for greater cooperation with European companies, particularly SMEs, as well as a transparent project selection process. Local authorities, civil society, and the private sector should be more closely involved so that projects are tailored to local needs.
The initiative goes beyond mere infrastructure investments and promotes legal frameworks, skilled workforce development, and political cooperation as well. The Council underscores its role in setting the policy direction and calls for improved governance and effective implementation of the strategy, regular reporting, closer coordination between the Commission, the member states, and EU delegations, as well as enhanced monitoring of results and impacts.
Academic and Scientific Cooperation
The conclusions underscore the importance of education and research as key areas of investment within the Global Gateway framework. The strategy aims to strengthen innovation capacity, skills, and sustainable growth in partner countries. Particular emphasis is placed on developing skills and promoting the exchange of successful models between regions and sectors. The strategy also emphasises the creation of synergies and coherence between the EU’s external action and relevant EU policy areas such as competitiveness, digitalisation, education, and research.
