Plea for synergy in growth initiative

The Global Gateway that the European Union set up in December last year is often said to be aimed at countering the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, but many say the three should be made to work together for the benefit of developing countries.

The EU unveiled the Global Gateway in an effort to mobilize 300 billion euros ($318 billion) by 2027 for connectivity projects, notably in the digital, climate and energy, transport, health, education and research sectors.

The program celebrated its first anniversary recently and drew criticism from Eurodad, a network of 58 civil society organizations in 28 European countries. It branded the program "little more than a public relations exercise by the European Commission".