Delivering on Global Gateway: Strengthening Development and Export Finance Complementarity and Coordination

This report is written at the request of the European Commission DG INTPA E2, following presentations and discussions at the Commission Experts Group on Enhanced Coordination of External Financial Tools. The EU aims to engage the private sector in both SDG-driven development and geostrategic trade and security goals, as seen in the Global Gateway and upcoming Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships (CTIPs). However, the Global Gateway focuses mainly on development finance, leaving trade finance underutilized, which weakens the EU’s position against global competitors like China’s BRI, the US, Japan, and Korea. A coordinated European strategy is needed to ensure fair competition, strengthen EU-aligned trade and investment, and build mutually beneficial global partnerships.