Brussels, 6 October 2025 – As the European Commission prepares to showcase the Global Gateway as a “success story” at its official Forum on 9–10 October in Brussels, civil society organisations are warning that the perspectives of those most affected are largely sidelined. 

ActionAid EU, CONCORD Europe, Counter Balance and the European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad) will host an event on the morning of 8 October. This will provide a platform for Global South civil society who will join MEP Udo Bullman and Permanent Representative of Denmark to the EU Magnus Guldberg, to debate how and if the Global Gateway is reducing inequalities and helping combat climate change - or entrenching existing North–South power divides. 

Frank Vanaerschot, Director of Counter Balance, said: “The EU Global Gateway has become the dominant strategy in EU external policy but it is deeply problematic. It uses the development budget, but is increasingly prioritising EU companies and geopolitical interests over climate and energy projects which prioritise local climate action and strong social and economic benefits. 

“It also gives little space for local communities and civil society in decision making. We see this reflected in the Global Gateway Forum agenda which is why we are holding this event to help rebalance the debate.”

Veronica Fadzai Zano, Regional Program Advisor-Extractive Industry, Oxfam Southern Africa, who will speak on the panel said: “The EU Global Gateway partnership investments in Zambia and other Southern African countries on critical raw materials supply chains and infrastructure development should be more than just financing to derisk projects. It should be about creating inclusive, transparent and transformational trade and development models.”

Kaisha Atakhanova, an environmental and civil society advocate with ARGO who has been studying Global Gateway projects in Kazakhstan,  will also speak on the panel. She said: “For Kazakhstan, Global Gateway must mean more than exporting raw materials — it must engage local industries, create value chains, and give our youth opportunities to build a just and sustainable future…. Global Gateway investments must also prove their value by applying high European standards of environmental protection and social responsibility — in every project, in every community.”

Hikma Bachegour, a researcher in MENAFem, a feminist organisation in North Africa, said “Without structural reforms to formalize women’s labor and redistribute opportunities, Global Gateway hydrogen projects in Morocco may reinforce — not disrupt — gender disparities.”

ENDS

Journalists are warmly invited to attend the event. Interviews with panellists and event organisers before or after the discussion can be arranged. Please see contact details below. 

Media contacts: 

Julia Ravenscroft, Communications Manager, Eurodad: [email protected], +44 7958184695 

Marine Le Bourdoulous, CONCORD Communications Adviser, [email protected], +32 487 43 67 50 

Isabela Franco, Counter Balance Communication Officer, [email protected], +351 912 838 853