The European Commission and the World Bank Group are strengthening their strategic partnership to deliver a new generation of sustainable connectivity projects under the EU’s Global Gateway investment strategy. An initial 18 high-impact projects have been identified across energy, transport, and digital infrastructure sectors in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. This cooperation aims to move projects efficiently from planning to financing, and ultimately to tangible results in the form of jobs, services, and economic growth. The announcement was made at the Global Gateway Forum, held on 9–10 October in Brussels.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Today, we are taking our partnership with the World Bank to the next level. This new framework will guide how we steer, govern, and monitor joint projects in the areas like energy, transport, and digital infrastructure. This will make sure that Global Gateway's strategic investments, hand in hand with the World Bank Group's capacity to deliver reforms, can crowd in maximum private capital.”
The 18 projects were selected for their strong alignment with Global Gateway and World Bank Group priorities, their scalability, potential to attract private investment, and their expected contribution to job creation, productivity, and regional integration.
The partnership aims to foster local employment, stimulate private sector development, and promote sustainable economic growth, particularly in countries rich in natural resources and with growing youth populations. It reflects the World Bank Group’s three-pillar job creation strategy, which focuses on:
- Investing in human and physical capital, including education, healthcare, and critical infrastructure such as roads, ports, and electricity;
- Building transparent and predictable business environments;
- Supporting private enterprises through capital, guarantees, and risk insurance.
As the EU’s external investment strategy, Global Gateway seeks to build smart, clean, and secure connections in digital, energy, and transport sectors while also strengthening health, education, and research systems worldwide. By promoting equal and resilient partnerships, the initiative contributes to global stability and supports the Sustainable Development Goals beyond Europe’s borders.
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