Global Gateway: Neo-Colonialism or Fair Partnerships? Policy Brief

The European Union aims to close the global infrastructure investment gap through its Global Gateway programme. The programme not only seeks to invest in sustainable global infrastructure development but also aims to promote fair partnerships with other nations while strengthening the Union’s geopolitical significance in sustainable infrastructure deployment. This policy brief examines the potential for the Global Gateway programme to mobilize investments while highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the attainment of ‘fairness’. The policy brief outlines three recommendations to achieve fairness through the Global Gateway: (i) including partner countries in the decision-making bodies of the Global Gateway; (ii) moving the focus beyond the deployment of physical infrastructure; and (iii) promoting fair commodity trade by nuturing local industries.