Global Gateway kohalikule tasandile viimine
Opinion factsheet
Sellel lehel
- välissuhted, laienemine ja naabruspoliitika
- EU international partnership
Opinion number:
CDR-2518-2025
Status:
Vastu võetud
Objective
This opinion aims to:
consolidate the CoR Political Position on the Global Gateway Strategy, as the new paradigm driving the EU's international partnerships.
make the case for the localisation of Global Gateway, by giving a strong role to local and regional authorities from partner countries in every aspect of the strategy, to connect EU's investments to local needs and sustainable development objectives.
highlight the contribution of decentralised development cooperation as a key tool that can help Global Gateway achieve its objectives, building on long term trusted partnerships and peer-to-peer learning to reinforce local capacities and ownership.
consolidate the CoR Political Position on the Global Gateway Strategy, as the new paradigm driving the EU's international partnerships.
make the case for the localisation of Global Gateway, by giving a strong role to local and regional authorities from partner countries in every aspect of the strategy, to connect EU's investments to local needs and sustainable development objectives.
highlight the contribution of decentralised development cooperation as a key tool that can help Global Gateway achieve its objectives, building on long term trusted partnerships and peer-to-peer learning to reinforce local capacities and ownership.
Impact
In follow up to the CoR opinion on the localisation of Global Gatewayand the December 2025 Forum Cities and Regions for International partnerships, the Council Relex-Global Gateway working party organised a two hours discussion on 13th February focusing on the recommendation of the CoR Opinion and key take aways from the Forum. A dozen member states voiced support to see a greater role for local authorities in Global Gateway projects, calling both for stronger guidance being provided to EU Delegations in that respect, and for inclusion of Local Authorities in Team Nationals.
Essential points
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS (CoR)
- welcomes the Global Gateway (GG), as the EU’s flagship international investment strategy essential for responding to complex global challenges and enhancing the EU’s role as a strategic, values-based global actor; to that end, the GG should reinforce governance and capacity beyond national governments and the private sector and further engage at subnational level;
- points out that local and regional governments (LRGs) play a key role in implementing the Global Gateway by ensuring democratic participation, local ownership and sustainable outcomes, including in fragile settings; recognises that there are already several positive examples of LRG involvement in GG projects that need to be scaled up and structurally anchored at the heart of the GG;
- observes that decentralised cooperation offers a mechanism for mutual learning, institutional strengthening and transfer of know-how, which aligns with the values and priorities of the EU;
- calls on the Commission and the EEAS to formally recognise LRGs – both in the EU and in partner countries – as strategic actors in shaping, implementing, governing and monitoring the GG; proposes that the Commission issue a new Communication on the role of LRGs in development cooperation;
- urges the inclusion of LRGs in the formal governance of the GG at EU level, beyond their current limited participation in the Advisory Platform, and in partner countries; requests that EU delegations be given the tools and resources needed to engage with LRGs, including through increased coordination with associations of LRGs and with the UN system;
- urges the EU to integrate decentralised cooperation as a recognised modality; recommends the allocation of a dedicated budget line for LRGs and decentralised cooperation in the post-2027 MFF;
- recommends channelling direct financing to subnational governments to strengthen fiscal decentralisation and provide predictable support for local public investment aligned with the SDGs.