Global Gateway: a Turning Point for the EU-Africa Strategy in Its Growing Competition with China

Back in 2021, the European Union launched its Global Gateway plan with the aim of investing 300 billion euros by 2027 to promote the development of infrastructures around the world, particularly in Africa. The focus spans strategic sectors: green technology, digital innovation, education, health, energy connectivity and transport.

Africa as a Strategic Priority

The decision to allocate half of the Global Gateway funding to Africa is rooted in multiple motivations.

First, the plan was designed as a European response to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and to Beijing’s growing presence on the continent. Over the past two decades, also by taking advantage of a crumbling international order, China has become one of the biggest foreign players in Africa, risking to outplace the EU and limit its access to strategic resources and trade opportunities.

On the other hand, and in line with the EU liberal values, the Global Gateway is meant to demonstrate that the EU has moved beyond both its former mercantilist and predatory approach toward Africa, as well as the assistentialist models that followed. Its aim is to facilitate a sustainable and long-term industrialisation process in Africa. Finally, this investment plan has the potential to stimulate economic growth and social development, which could help reduce migration waves from Africa to Europe, while assuring the EU with a privilege access to a growing market and strategic resources.

Global Gateway Projects in Africa: What Has Been Delivered so Far?

Four years after its implementation, the Global Gateways includes  93 flagship projects in Africa, divided in different strategic sectors: digital (20), climate (26), transport (19), education (13) and health (15). In addition, more than 20 different projects have been started at regional level by Team Europe, a coalition of European institutions and financial institutions as well as member countries, sharing an increasing interest in Africa and its development.

For instance, France, Germany and Belgium are funding members of the Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies (‘MAV+’) announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in May 2021. This initiative started with an initial budget of 1 billion euro to strengthen African pharmaceutical industry and develop a local manufacturing capacity.

Moreover, individual European countries have launched national investment plans for Africa.

• In January 2025, President Macron announced an investment of 1 billion euro over the next five years as part of the French Mission 300 to provide electricity access to 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
• Similarly, back in 2023, Italy launched the Mattei Plan for the development of African states to increase cooperation between the opposite shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
• In 2017, Germany had already promoted the Compact with Africa (CwA) within its G20 Presidency, with the idea of raising private investments in African countries that are committed to implement economic reforms to develop their macroeconomic, business, and financial frameworks.

Why the EU is Still Seen as Less Effective than China in Africa

Despite growing European efforts to promote long-term development in Africa, a 2021 survey developed by the Inter Region Economic Network, revealed that 7 Africans out of 10 considered China to be a more effective decision maker than the EU, and 8 out of 10 believed that China, unlike the EU, could complete projects on time.

In other words, while the EU is still perceived as the best “soft power” agent in areas such as gender issues, human rights and transparency. It is not considered as efficient in promoting business plans and economic growth. The EU could harmonise its trade regime with African countries in order to favour regional integration.

Moreover, the prioritisation of investments that align with democratic values, high standards, and sustainable development principles within the Global Gateway risks positioning the Plan counted as a high-level initiative, rooted in European values and principles, which cannot really contribute to an effective economic growth in Africa. In addition, the total funding planned by the Global Gateway is almost four times less than China’s BRI investments. This disparity raises the risk that the initiative will be perceived as yet another European attempt to use a developmental narrative to mask strategic interest, such as strengthening its strategic autonomy, diversifying trade partnerships and securing access to high-growth regions such as Africa.

The Changing Geopolitical Context: A Window of Opportunity for the EU in Africa

The EU needs to prove its sceptics wrong now more than ever, especially in light of current geopolitical trends. The number of international competitors in the region has diminished. Under Trump Presidency, the United States is in the process of isolating itself, especially from Africa, cutting many of the foreign direct investments and undermining traditional American support to the fight against HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, vaccines and climate actions.

Meanwhile, Russia’s security presence in countries such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso may be less likely to be challenged, Moscow will remain focused on its northwest border, until the war in Ukraine will find an appeasement.

Africa’s Role in Europe’s Green Transition and Strategic Autonomy

Africa remains a strategic partner not only for the above-mentioned European interests, but also for managing migration, address security concerns and ensuring access to critical resources, especially in the energy sector. The EU needs Africa to decarbonize its own industrial base, reduce its dependence on China and strengthen its clean industrial technologies.

For these reasons, green industrialization is supposed to be a strategic theme for the upcoming 7th African Union-European Union Summit in 2025. Yet, an Africa-EU dialogue around green industrialization risks being overly Eurocentric, focused mainly on Europe’s needs for green hydrogen and critical raw materials. At the same time, the Global Gateway’s normative approach may reinforce existing power imbalances and undermine institutional autonomy.

Toward a More Balanced and Equal EU-Africa Partnership

While Africa has made significant progress in developing rule-of-law frameworks, regulatory effectiveness and institutional stability — key enablers for investments, the EU should provide some concessions. For instance, harmonising its trade policy across African regions could boost regional economic integration and create a more dynamic environment for trade and investment opportunities.

A more equal and self-determined relationship is not only ethically necessary — it must be a strategic goal for the EU. If Europe wants to remain a relevant actor in a rapidly growing and increasingly assertive continent like Africa, it needs to build a partnership based on mutual respect, co-creation and strategic convergence.