Global Gateway – the moment of truth.

 

The Global Gateway is the EU’s new connectivity strategy that aims to create smart, sustainable, and secure links with countries around the world in the thematic areas of digital, energy, and transport. It also aims to strengthen health and education systems across the world. The paper argues that the Global Gateway strategy has the seeds of something new, but that it will need to overcome a number of challenges to be successful.

The Global Gateway strategy presents a clear European offer based on democratic values, equal partnerships, environmental sustainability, safe and secure infrastructure, and integrates the private sector. The EU wants to rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative and other regional and global players and to re-establish the EU’s standing, notably in Africa where the EU promised €150 billion of the €300 billion pledged under the Global Gateway investments.

It will be essential for member states to fully buy into the Global Gateway brand, bringing both their political and financial offer to the table. It will take time, patience, and genuine impact to develop the Global Gateway into a successful brand. Overcoming reputational issues, particularly in Africa, will require showing that this is genuinely a new approach. The Global Gateway will also require a change in the way development, foreign and economic policy areas work together, combining geopolitical steering and an understanding of private sector needs. Finally, there will be no Global Gateway unless the EU and its member states manage to scale up private sector investment.

The Global Gateway, the European Union’s 300 billion euro investment package, is committed to this, and its aim is to help restore the world order based on international and economic rules.

In the program that started almost a year ago, the approach that Estonia had set on its banner much earlier took shape: the idea of ​​trusted connectivity.

That Russia has waged war unjustifiably and has gravely violated international law has only made it all the more urgent that we adopt this approach.

We are replacing Russian fossil fuels with resilient supply chains that enable the transition to a green economy and avoid new dependencies. We want an open, secure, and human-centered digital society that reflects our democratic values ​​and norms. We are in constant contact with partners who want to build a free, prosperous, and sustainable future with us. On our way, we are now faced with a choice: are we willing to pay a premium for trust or not?

Europe’s message is clear: trust may have a price – but this price is worth paying. The value of freedom is priceless.

Actions followed words

The three Baltic states and other Central and Eastern European countries have been aware of Putin’s intentions for years and have warned others that Russia is not a reliable energy partner. Estonia – as well as Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland – began to disconnect from Russian energy long before the Kremlin invaded Ukraine. The mentioned countries have invested in renewable energy, and have developed LNG terminals and energy system connectors. Thanks to the REPowerEU plan, the whole of Europe is now following their example to never again depend on Russian fossil fuels. The current crisis revealed what internal strength the European Union possesses. We acted together, quickly and decisively.

Our sanctions on Russia are crippling the country’s war economy, and Ukraine is making gains on the battlefield.

NATO and the Transatlantic Security Alliance are stronger than ever. However, the war is far from over. To ensure Ukraine’s victory, the EU and its allies must use their influence to shift the geopolitical and economic order in the direction of openness, cooperation, and freedom, to a situation where everyone abides by the rules that reflect these values. And for this, the Global Gateway initiative, which embodies the idea of ​​reliable connectivity, is the right tool.

Towards trusted partnerships

The Global Gateway is Europe’s promise to offer positive, value-based cooperation opportunities to our neighbors and global partners. While autocracies think in terms of spheres of influence and instead of eliminating them, they want to deepen unhealthy dependency relationships, we want to create partnerships based on common values ​​and a common vision for the future. We want to build the digital and environmentally friendly infrastructure of the future economy, we want to connect our partners – including our eastern neighbors – with Europe, and Europe with the colorful and dynamic southern part of the world.

Global Gateway is already delivering tangible results.

For example, the EU finances new economic corridors and energy industry infrastructure with its help, so that the countries of the Western Balkans are more closely connected to the Union and come closer to realizing their dreams of European integration. By investing in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and raw materials value chains, we are building mutually beneficial relationships with countries such as Namibia and Chile. This benefits both their sustainable growth and our energy security. A good example is the creation of digital infrastructures, such as the new undersea optical cable under the Black Sea, with which we diversify Internet access in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Through the Global Gateway, we are also supporting the establishment of plants producing mRNA vaccines in Rwanda, Senegal, and soon in Latin America, to advance global health by transferring advanced technologies and improving regional resilience.

It is important to act unitedly against the increasing confidence and aggression of autocratic regimes. That is why the Global Gateway connects Europe’s closest partners, as well as other initiatives promoting reliable connectivity, such as the global infrastructure and investment partnership of the G7. In this way, we can not only strengthen the impact of our investments but also use our knowledge and standardization power more effectively. Together, we are able to shape the new era of globalization, an era in which the resilience of the economy is important, not just economic efficiency, and which, in addition to serving our well-being, is also in line with our values.

Collaboration platform

We have reached a decisive moment – the moment of truth.

We must continue to meet the challenges and build a strong coalition for progress against historical revisionism. To facilitate cooperation, Estonia created the “Team Europe” partnership portal, where the European Union and its member states can contact their partners within the framework of the Global Gateway initiative. This year’s Tallinn Digital Summit is also a call to democratic countries to put into practice the vision of reliable connectivity together, to protect freedom and democracy, and to demonstrate our long-term commitment – to Ukraine, to peace, to open and fair international in addition to the future of our order.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia.