Global Gateway: A Euro-centric global policy

The Global Gateway is presented as a program of infrastructure projects and political “partnerships” in the Global South, officially framed as a “win-win partnership” where development, trade and geopolitical objectives can match. In reality, it is a Euro-centric global policy that prioritises European geopolitical and economic interests over the fight against poverty, inequalities and climate change in the Global South.

The strategy relies on public loans rather than grants, mainly through the European Investment Bank (EIB), with favourable conditions for European companies through guarantees and de-risking.

Traditional development projects such as schools, hospitals, salaries for doctors or teachers, small-scale agricultural support and social protection are becoming rare. Instead, investments focus on large infrastructure projects in energy, mining, transport and digital sectors to secure access to energy, raw materials and data for EU big business.

Projects are concentrated in countries of geopolitical interest to the EU and are largely designed by European capitals and corporations, with little participation from local communities. The opaque selection process and lack of transparency leave limited space for democratic debate, while concrete benefits for the Global South remain weak. Overall, controversial projects such as large energy and hydrogen infrastructure reflect a neocolonial and extractivist model, offering no real development, no decent local jobs and no Just Transition for the Global South.