Global Gateway: Team Europe’s first meeting of the Global Gateway Board

Today, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell, Commissioners Olivér Várhelyi and Jutta Urpilainen, as well as Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EU Member States participated in the first Global Gateway Board meeting. The Board is the main political steering body of the Global Gateway Communication adopted in December 2021. Representatives from the European Parliament, the European Investment Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development were present as observers.

Global Gateway is Europe's offer for connecting the world with sustainable investments to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy, transport and climate-relevant sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems. It will help to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to improving health systems, and boosting the sustainability and security of global supply chains.

In the Enlargement and Neighbourhood countries, Global Gateway is being implemented through the three Economic Investment Plans. The overall objective of these plans is to boost the economic development of the regions and connect them within and with the EU. The Economic Investment Plans were developed jointly with Partner countries, and address in particular connectivity gaps: missing infrastructure in digital, energy and transport. 

At this first Global Gateway Board meeting four projects in enlargement and neighbourhood countries were presented. The Medusa Submarine Cable System will support enhanced connectivity for Universities and SMEs in the Mediterranean. The Railway Section Beljakovce – Kriva Palanka – Bulgarian border in North Macedonia will contribute to connecting goods and people better. The Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor in Serbia will provide enhanced regional connectivity and energy security. The Black Sea Strategic Submarine Electricity Cable between Georgia and the EU will contribute to mutual resilience and also allow to export green energy from the South Caucasus to Europe.

Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi said:

“The future prosperity and stability of the EU and it neighbourhood largely depends on how we raise our connectivity together. This is where our relations should be the strongest, and this is where we have already started laying the foundations for more resilient economies and creating growth and jobs locally. 

The connectivity agenda of the European Union is being implemented through our three Economic Investment Plans designed with the Western Balkans and the EU’s Neighbourhood regions to enable cutting traveling times, providing more and faster trade routes, faster digital connections, and building new energy partnerships. Today 84 flagship projects have been identified, and investments of €14 billion have been implemented for the mutual benefit of the EU and its neighbourhood. This is how Europe can help the region to grow faster and provide a more attractive investments’ climate which will bring jobs and a future for its people.”

For more information

• Global Gateway Projects in the EU neighbourhood and Enlargement regions
• Digital Connectivity - Enhanced connectivity for Universities and SMEs - Medusa Submarine Cable System
• Sustainable Transport - Connecting goods and people better - Railway section Beljakovce-Kriva Palanka - Bulgarian border, Corridor VIII in North Macedonia 
• Clean energy - Enhanced regional connectivity and energy security - Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor in Serbia
• Clean energy - Energy connectivity - Black Sea strategic submarine electricity cable for enhanced mutual resilience