European Council | Global Gateway: Council Adopts Conclusions on the EU’s Global Investment and Partnership Strategy

The Council today adopted conclusions on Global Gateway, reaffirming it as the European Union’s worldwide investment strategy for building mutually beneficial partnerships and mobilising public and private resources to bridge the global investment gap. In a geopolitical environment marked by growing fragmentation, economic competition and pressure on democratic governance, the Council reiterates its commitment to advance Global Gateway as a core element of the EU’s external action. The strategy represents the EU’s positive and comprehensive offer to partner countries, combining development cooperation, trade and investment policy.

The Council reaffirmed its role in setting the political direction for Global Gateway, and underlined the need for enhanced involvement of member states and the private sector, improved governance and more effective delivery of the strategy. It also stressed the need for clearer and more transparent project selection, regular reporting, stronger coordination between the Commission, member states and EU delegations, and enhanced monitoring of results and impact.

The conclusions stress that Global Gateway is grounded in European values and high standards, including transparency, good governance, environmental and social sustainability, and respect for human rights and the rule of law. Global Gateway remains fully aligned with global commitments including the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. Through a Team Europe approach bringing together the EU institutions, member states, financial institutions and the private sector, the strategy aims to deliver high-quality, trusted and secure investments in areas such as digital connectivity, energy, transport, health, education and research. The Council also underlined that Global Gateway supports both partner-country priorities and the EU’s strategic interests, contributing to resilience, competitiveness, economic security, strategic autonomy and more diversified supply chains.

The Council highlights that Global Gateway goes beyond infrastructure investment alone. The strategy combines financing for transformative projects with support for enabling regulatory frameworks, skills development, institutional strengthening and policy cooperation in order to maximise long-term development impact and sustainability. The conclusions also reaffirm the importance of local ownership and equal partnerships, stressing that Global Gateway projects should be aligned with partner countries’ priorities and developed in close consultation with local authorities, civil society and the private sector.

The conclusions also emphasise the importance of increasing the participation of European businesses, including SMEs, and improving communication efforts to strengthen Global Gateway’s visibility and recognition as a trusted EU brand worldwide. The Council calls for continued dialogue with partner countries and stakeholders to ensure that the strategy continues to evolve in line with global challenges and opportunities.

Compliments of the European Council