Launched in December 2021, the Global Gateway Initiative (GGI) is the European Union's connectivity strategy, designed to fund various development projects amidst the geopolitical landscape. The strategy quickly established itself as a pivotal force in global infrastructure development and just recently celebrated the achievement of its €300 billion investment goal, two years ahead of the 2027 deadline. Presented as the EU's response to the growing global investment gap, the GGI aligns global development needs with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Framed as a value-driven alternative to other infrastructure development models, such as the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), it is built on the core principles of good governance, transparency, and environmental and social sustainability.
At its essence, the GGI intends to boost smart, sustainable, and secure connections in the digital, clean energy, and transportation sectors, to strengthen health, education, and research systems across the world. The initiative offers a strategic framework that prioritises the establishment of bilateral partnerships across the globe instead of simple investment plans or provision of development aid. With a focus on enhancing infrastructures, the strategy promotes projects that are tailored to local needs, utilising the local workforce and knowledge.
While the initiative is still relatively new, several key projects are already underway or in advanced planning stages, particularly in Africa and South America. This blogpost series will offer a glimpse of what the GGI has achieved so far, review the actual impact it has had on the recipient countries and take a dive into potential future projects.
Structure and Targets
The main pillar of the GGI is the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), established in 2017 as part of the EU's broader External Investment Plan (EIP). EFSD+ provides EU guarantees worth €40 billion to attract around €135 billion in private investment. This fund is then complemented by €18 billion in EU grants and €145 billion in planned investments from institutions such as the EIB and EBRD.
The main targets of the GGI focus on five key areas: (i) digital transformation; (ii) clean energy transition; (iii) sustainable transportation; (iv) improved health systems; and (v) education and research. The EU's ambition for such a comprehensive strategy is inspired by the European Consensus for Development, the Union's response to the UN SDGs goals aimed at eradicating poverty. The Commission recognises the need for mutually beneficial and interest-driven relationships, in contrast to the classical donor-recipient aid, following postcolonial structures. In December 2024, 46 new GGI flagship projects were therefore added to the list of a total of 218 initiatives the EU has so far been working on.
What's Next?
A key point to understand the program's results and future is the Parliament's 26 March 2026 resolution on 'Global Gateway – past impacts and future orientation', which was prepared through a joint AFET/DEVE procedure by rapporteurs Chloé Ridel and Hildegard Bentele. Parliament broadly supports the idea of Global Gateway as both an EU geopolitical and a development tool, but it raises several problems. In the text adopted by it, transparency is the first one. MEPs question how the Commission calculates the money mobilised and demand clearer distinctions between EU budget money, member-state contributions, private investment, guarantees, and projects that may simply have been rebranded as Global Gateway. Auditable figures and a public methodology are also key.
Governance is also mentioned. Parliament argues that project selection has been too centralised and insufficiently demand-driven. It calls for stronger involvement of partner countries, local communities, civil society, parliaments, and independent experts. The rapporteurs felt that the program's approach to project funding is top-down.
The third issue is who benefits economically. Parliament asks for data on procurement, contracts, and the share of benefits going to EU companies, partner-country companies, and third-country firms. It also raises concern about Chinese companies potentially implementing Global Gateway projects, which could compromise the project's presentation as an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative.
During the debates on the resolution, the Commission agreed with the recommendation to work more closely with Parliament and highlighted its initiatives around the programme, including future forums with partner countries. The recent mission to Addis Ababa, where new investments and partnerships were announced, was a first example of this approach. Others are expected to follow, including one with Brazil, one of the Mercosur parties to the EU-Mercosur agreements signed in January 2026 and expected to enter into force through a provisional application in May. Nonetheless, the Commission has not yet publicly committed to the full level of transparency requested by Parliament. Since the resolution is non-binding, it remains unclear whether Global Gateway will pivot towards the degree of financial disclosure, procurement transparency and parliamentary oversight demanded by MEPs.
The current scenario puts the Global Gateway Initiative under the spotlight. Not only will the near future be decisive for its credibility, without clearer reporting and transparency, it risks hindering its own potential divided between its values-based development strategy and a geopolitical investment tool. Whether it succeeds as a genuine model of equal partnership and the primary vehicle for EU competitiveness abroad, it will depend less on the scale of the money announced than on the evidence of how, where and for whom it is spent.
In the next posts in this series, we will move from ambition to implementation, drawing on data to assess how Global Gateway is being deployed and whether it can become the bloc's answer to today's geopolitical, economic and development tensions.
Policy Insights to Improve Organizational Positioning
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