Description
In 2021, the European Union launched the "Global Gateway" project. This initiative aimed to invest in infrastructure and connectivity from 2021 to 2027 to create markets for EU goods and services, establish and expand industrial, technical, legal, and commercial standards, and provide an alternative to competing programs like China's "Belt and Road" initiative and the American project "Build Back Better World" (B3W) by focusing on sustainable investments and reliable connections. The project also sought to strengthen economic and political ties with partner countries, promote the EU's global role, and prioritize regions such as the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership countries, the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. A significant portion of the estimated $300 billion funds was reallocated from other projects implemented by the European Commission or national development programs of the member states.
This text will analyze the Global Gateway initiative's scope by comparing it to similar programs in China and the US, focusing on the ratio of public and partially public funding to private investment capital. Additionally, the paper will explore the connection between the Global Gateway project and the concept of open strategic autonomy of the European Union.
