Building Stronger Connections: EU's Plan for Sustainable Growth and Development

The European Parliament’s resolution on the Global Gateway (2024‑2029) sets out a clear, practical plan for the EU’s flagship framework that aims to build smart, clean and secure links with partner countries. The main points are:

Purpose and vision

• The Global Gateway is the EU’s answer to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• It is a long‑term strategy that combines foreign, economic and development policy to create sustainable, inclusive growth and to strengthen the EU’s geopolitical influence.
• Projects must support the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, gender equality, human rights and the EU’s social‑rights pillar.

Funding and financial rules

• €306 billion has already been mobilised by the end of 2024.
• At least 93 % of spending under the NDICI‑Global Europe instrument must meet official development assistance (ODA) criteria.
• The EU aims to spend 0.7 % of its gross national income (GNI) on ODA.
• Projects should use blended finance, guarantees, export‑credit agencies and the European Investment Bank (EIB) while avoiding debt traps and ensuring local value creation.

Project selection and implementation

• Flagship projects must be demand‑driven, involve EU and partner private sectors, and include European content.
• They should be transparent, use environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, and give local SMEs a real chance to participate.
• Projects must avoid state‑controlled companies from authoritarian states and must not create new debt burdens for fragile or conflict‑affected countries (23 % of the world’s population lives in such contexts).

Governance and accountability

• The Parliament must have a stronger, equal role in the Global Gateway Board and in regular reporting.
• A clear, transparent selection process for flagship projects is required, with objective criteria and regular monitoring.
• Civil society, local authorities, partner‑country parliaments and SMEs must be consulted and involved in decision‑making.
• The Board should meet more often, be operational, and include experts who can make decisions quickly.

Transparency and monitoring

• The Commission must publish detailed, up‑to‑date data on funding, procurement, local benefits, gender disaggregation and impact on SDGs.
• Regular impact assessments, including job creation, skills transfer and local value added, are mandatory.
• A unified methodology for measuring mobilised investment and for distinguishing ODA from non‑ODA funding must be adopted.

Trade, investment and partnership

• Projects should align with EU trade policy, support trade facilitation, and create market access for partner countries.
• The EU should coordinate with the UN, G7, and other like‑minded partners to maximise impact and ensure a rules‑based, multilateral approach.
• The Global Gateway should promote the EU’s green and digital agendas, ensuring projects are climate‑positive and technologically advanced.

Special focus areas

• Climate and water security, renewable energy, critical raw materials, and digital sovereignty are priority sectors.
• Gender equality, disability rights, and the empowerment of vulnerable groups must be integral to every project.
• The EU should avoid projects that increase debt vulnerability and should support debt‑for‑nature or debt‑for‑climate swaps where appropriate.

Future steps

• Codify the Global Gateway into the Global Europe regulation for legal certainty.
• Strengthen the Team Europe approach, ensuring national and EU‑level coordination.
• Improve communication and visibility of the Global Gateway, especially in partner countries, to build trust and attract private investment.

In short, the resolution calls for a more democratic, transparent, and results‑oriented Global Gateway that balances geopolitical goals with genuine development impact, protects local communities, and ensures that EU funding is used efficiently and responsibly.

Broader Context

The Global Gateway is part of a wider shift in how the European Union operates globally. Instead of focusing mainly on internal policies, the EU is increasingly acting as a geopolitical player—competing with other powers like China, especially through its Belt and Road Initiative.

This reflects several global trends:

• Competition over infrastructure and influence: Major powers are investing in roads, energy, and digital networks abroad to build long-term influence. The EU’s approach emphasizes transparency, sustainability, and social standards as an alternative model.
• Climate and digital transition: The strategy aligns with global agreements like the Paris Agreement on climate change and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, meaning projects are designed to support green energy and digital development worldwide.
• Reducing dependency risks: Recent crises (e.g. supply chain disruptions, energy shocks) pushed the EU to secure access to critical raw materials and technologies by building stronger partnerships with other regions.
• Blending public and private finance: Public money alone is not enough for global infrastructure, so the EU is increasingly using financial tools to attract private investors while trying to maintain public oversight.

Overall, this policy shows the EU trying to shape globalization according to its own rules—focused on sustainability, human rights, and long-term partnerships rather than quick gains.

Impact on EU Citizens

For people living in the EU, the effects are mostly indirect but still important:

• Economic opportunities: European companies, including smaller businesses, may gain access to new international projects, which can support jobs and innovation within the EU.
• More stable supply chains: Investments in partner countries (e.g. for raw materials or energy) can reduce shortages and price shocks in Europe.
• Use of public funds: Part of EU and national budgets is used to finance these projects, so there is increased emphasis on transparency and accountability to ensure money is spent effectively.
• Values in foreign policy: The EU is trying to ensure that its external investments reflect standards important to its citizens, such as environmental protection, labor rights, and gender equality.
• Migration and global stability: By supporting development and infrastructure abroad, the EU aims to address some root causes of instability and migration, which can influence long-term trends affecting Europe.

Why It Matters Politically

This resolution also strengthens the role of the European Parliament in overseeing how the strategy is run. That means more democratic scrutiny over large international investments and clearer reporting to the public.

It also signals that the EU wants to act more cohesively through the “Team Europe” approach—coordinating EU institutions and member states to act as a single, stronger global actor.