In the communication "Building sustainable international partnerships as Team Europe", which takes stock of progress made in international partnerships, the EU executive highlights that between 2021 and 2023, 179 billion euros was invested in third countries with which the EU has partnerships.
One of the projects that will be supported by the Global Gateway investment strategy, in the area of transport connectivity, is the Lobito corridor, to improve the connection between the port of Lobito, in Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia.
In 2023, it should be recalled, the European Commission approved the memorandum of understanding on working arrangements between the EU, the governments of the United States of America, Angola, Zambia and the DRC, and the African Development Bank and the Africa Finance Corporation regarding the development of the Lobito Corridor and the Zambia-Lobito railway line.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen stressed that "the new paradigm is based on mutually beneficial partnerships that strengthen both the resilience of partners and the resilience of Europe".
Over the past five years, the Commission highlights, the EU has reshaped its international partnerships, moving away from the donor-recipient dynamic and towards mutually beneficial partnerships.
The partnerships are developed in five areas: climate and energy, digital transition, transport connectivity, health, education and research.
The Global Gateway strategy was created in 2021 to reduce the global investment gap and in response to a Chinese initiative in the international field, with Team Europe as its "backbone".
Team Europe is made up of the EU, the Member States – including their implementing agencies and public development banks – as well as the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The European Commission has contributed 50 billion dollars, the Member States and the EBRD have together mobilised 129 billion dollars, with 225 projects already supported.
