Catégorie : Dossier

On 22 April 2024, the European Confederation of NGOs working on Sustainable Development and International Cooperation (CONCORD) published the following press release on the leaked DG INTPA’s draft Briefing Book for the next European Commission. The document displays the EU’s retreat from international cooperation, with the European Union’s efforts to implement global commitments, such as the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change at the forefront. Politico Europe leaked the document on 23 April 2024. 

Press release: ‘A sell-out of international cooperation’: DG INTPA turns its back on commitments to put human development at the centre of its international cooperation in leaked briefing

Brussels. The recent leak of the draft Briefing Book from the Department for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) for the next Commission sparked anger among CONCORD and its members.

DG INTPA, entrusted with supporting its partner countries on their path to sustainable development, reducing poverty, and promoting human rights, has taken a shocking turn toward prioritising competition and EU-centric interests, particularly in securing critical raw materials.

“We’re truly shocked that DG INTPA’s vision of international partnerships for the next five years is basically a trade and investment strategy for the EU based on its geopolitical interests. Those interests are defined by competition and the EU’s economic security. Nowhere do we see a concern for the priorities of partner countries, let alone an interest in ensuring that people’s lives are improved. “People” are totally missing from the Briefing Book. This proposal is selling out international cooperation, quite literally!” Rilli Lappalainen. President , CONCORD

While we understand that new approaches should be tried and we acknowledge the potential of the Global Gateway if it had a people-centred focus aimed at reducing inequalities, we have concerns about the current direction. The Briefing Book raises serious issues and undermines international cooperation, potentially reversing years of progress. It’s important to note that the Global Gateway, while significant for the EU’s economic security strategy, is not a comprehensive answer from the EU to the multifaceted challenges faced by partner countries.

The brief is silent on the impact of inequality, power relations and undemocratic trends on current world events and insecurity.

“Investment projects alone don’t hold the key to addressing the multiple crises that partner countries are confronting. Investments in transport in return for cobalt will not solve the world’s crises. The so-called “traditional and narrow development and foreign policy approaches” have a real role to play in the EU’s partnerships to bring peace, security, equality, and well-being to the world. The world urgently requires cooperation, not a race to exploit other countries’ natural resources.” Naima Charkaoui, Advocacy Director, 11.11.11 (Belgian umbrella for international solidarity)

Civil society organisations are calling for immediate commitments from the European Commission to realign its international cooperation efforts with sustainable development goals (SDGs). The EU’s credibility and reputation as a reliable partner hinge on its ability to reaffirm commitments to global welfare and human rights.

Source: CONCORD,’A sell-out of international cooperation’: DG INTPA turns its back on commitments to put human development at the centre of its international cooperation in leaked briefing, 22 April 2024, https://concordeurope.org/2024/04/22/a-sell-out-of-international-cooperation-dg-intpa-turns-its-back-on-commitments-to-put-human-development-at-the-centre-of-its-international-cooperation-in-leaked-briefing/ (viewed 10 June 2024).

On 23 May 2024, CONCORD released a study entitled A Gateway to Equality? Insights from El Salvador and Lesotho on Tackling Inequalities in the European Union’s Global Gateway Programmes, with insights into the direction of the EU’s international cooperation and recommendations.

Press release: ‘You cannot reach the poorest if you don’t know who they are’: New research finds Global Gateway projects currently lacking ambition regarding inequality reduction in partner countries

Brussels, 24 May 2024 – CONCORD has launched new research on Global Gateway and inequalities, finding that if the initiative is not effectively rethought, it will exacerbate inequalities in partner countries rather than reducing them.

‘A gateway to equality? Insights from El Salvador and Lesotho on tackling inequalities in the European Union’s Global Gateway programmes’ finds that infrastructure projects do have the potential to address inequalities. However, unless Global Gateway projects actively target inequalities as a key objective, the EU’s commitment to address inequalities through international partnerships will be undermined.

The European Commission’s Global Gateway initiative has been branded as a tool to fill investment gaps in the Global South and tackle interconnected global challenges through a Team Europe approach.

Global Gateway has faced several criticisms since its inception. Notably, the initiative has been criticised for acting as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road in order to serve EU geopolitical interests and the European private sector at the expense of EU commitments on sustainable development.

With these criticisms in mind, CONCORD has analysed two Global Gateway projects – Renewable Lesotho and Social Digital Connectivity in El Salvador.

While the research finds that infrastructure projects do have the potential to tackle inequalities, it also found that unless affordability is ensured, these projects run the risk of leaving people further behind. As well as this, those responsible for project design and implementation must identify inequalities as a target of projects and devise strategies to address them from the outset.

On 23 November 2023, the Council of the EU adopted conclusions in which it called for “the broadest application of the Inequality Marker, including in Team Europe Initiatives and with regard to the Global Gateway”. Yet, there has been a failure to prioritise inequalities in programmes; this is a cause for concern as it leads to a risk of the EU’s external action contributing to inequalities.

“The findings of the research are not only concerning in their own right – they also compound an alarming situation illustrated by the leak of DG IntPa’s draft briefing book which positions Global Gateway as the primary focus of the future Commission’s international cooperation. As our research recognises, investment projects can contribute to addressing inequalities, but they cannot be the only approach to supporting partner countries to confront multiple interlinked crises.” Borja Arrue-Astrain, Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor at CONCORD

As part of the research, CONCORD has put forward recommendations to avert a situation in which Global Gateway widens gaps between individuals, communities and countries and to bring the initiative in line with the EU’s sustainable development commitments.

Source: CONCORD, ‘You cannot reach the poorest if you don’t know who they are’: New research finds Global Gateway projects currently lacking ambition regarding inequality reduction in partner countries, 24 May 2024, https://concordeurope.org/2024/05/24/you-cannot-reach-the-poorest-if-you-dont-know-who-they-are-new-research-finds-global-gateway-projects-currently-lacking-ambition-regarding-inequality-reduction-in-partner-c/ (viewed 10 June 2024).