At the time of writing, the Second In-person Meeting of the Global Gateway CSO and LA Advisory Platform (10-11 October 2024) is set to convene in Brussels, bringing together civil society organisations and local authorities to discuss their engagement in the rollout of Global Gateway flagship projects. This meeting serves as a key moment for reflecting on the EU’s commitment to fostering people-centred, inclusive partnerships in the context of its Global Gateway strategy.
The EU has long prided itself on being a champion of human rights, sustainable development, and humanitarian action. The release of the Joint Communication on Building Sustainable International Partnerships as Team Europe reinforces the EU’s ambition to be a global actor promoting these values. However, while the document presents opportunities to enhance the EU’s external actions and international partnerships, it also raises critical questions about how the EU will balance its geopolitical interests with the principles of inclusive development and civil society engagement. The EU treaties and the Samoa Agreement provide a legally binding framework to guide the EU’s approach to sustainable partnerships, and it is crucial that the Joint Communication aligns with these commitments.
The Role of Civil Society: Inclusion or Afterthought?
The Joint Communication rightly positions the EU as a key player in fostering sustainable partnerships. By emphasising the “Team Europe” approach, the EU and its Member States are demonstrating a commitment to work in a more coherent and strategic manner. However, a noticeable gap remains in how this will translate to on-the-ground engagement with civil society organisations (CSOs).
The Samoa Agreement, which forms the basis for the EU’s partnerships with African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries, stresses the importance of a “people-centred and rights-based approach.” It specifically highlights the role of civil society as key stakeholders in human development, democratic governance, and human rights promotion (Part II, Title I). The EU treaties also reflect this: Article 11 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) enshrines the principle of participatory democracy, calling on EU institutions to “maintain an open, transparent, and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society.”
CSOs are not just implementers of development policy; they are crucial partners in shaping, guiding, and holding the EU accountable to its core values of democratic governance, human rights, and social justice. The emphasis in the Joint Communication on infrastructure investments and private sector engagement could potentially overshadow the vital role that CSOs play in addressing the social dimensions of development, from poverty reduction and gender equality to social inclusion and human rights protection.
For the EU to uphold its commitments under the Samoa Agreement and the Treaty on European Union – to leave no one behind and to reach those furthest behind first – CSOs must be seen as essential contributors to policymaking and implementation. Clear and meaningful avenues for their involvement must be established throughout all EU external cooperation programmes and modalities to ensure that development initiatives are people-centred, and that the social fabric of communities is strengthened alongside economic progress.
Geopolitics vs. Development – Is there a Balance?
The EU’s “Team Europe” strategy and its Global Gateway initiative aim to position the Union as a more visible and influential actor on the world stage. While this ambition aligns with the EU’s strategic objectives, it risks creating tensions between the Union’s foreign policy priorities and the core principles of its development policy.
Balancing Geopolitical Framing with Development Principles: The TEU, particularly Article 21, mandates that the EU’s external actions are guided by principles such as democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and sustainable development. This means development cooperation should be primarily aimed at reducing poverty and inequality, supporting sustainable development, and promoting human rights. Similarly, the Samoa Agreement stipulates in Part II that the partnership’s objectives include promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, eradicating poverty, and addressing inequalities.
While the Joint Communication aligns with these values in principle, its strategic framing may lead to the prioritisation of countries or projects that serve the EU’s geopolitical interests over those primarily aimed at addressing needs on the ground. Prioritising infrastructure development and raw material or energy partnerships in regions of strategic importance to the EU could overshadow localised interventions crucial for poverty alleviation and community development, which are foundational to EU treaties and the Samoa Agreement.
Ensuring Needs-Based Allocation of Resources: Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) clearly outlines the primary objective of EU development cooperation: “the reduction and, in the long term, the eradication of poverty.” The Samoa Agreement similarly calls for cooperation to be based on mutual interests and needs (Article 1, Objectives). While recognising the geopolitical context, the EU must ensure that the primary objective of development cooperation is not compromised and that the needs of developing countries and local communities are central in the selection and design of “Team Europe” initiatives and investments.
Ensuring Accountability and Coherence for True Partnership
The EU treaties and the Samoa Agreement both highlight the importance of policy coherence for development (PCD), ensuring that all policies affecting developing countries contribute to sustainable development outcomes. Article 208 TFEU requires the EU to ensure that its policies are coherent and contribute to development objectives, while the Samoa Agreement (Article 2, Principles) emphasises “shared responsibility” and coherence as guiding principles for cooperation.
While the Joint Communication reiterates the need for alignment between EU external actions and its development goals, stronger accountability mechanisms are needed to guarantee that development objectives are not compromised by strategic interests. Enhanced transparency in resource allocation, regular monitoring, and evaluation of partnerships, and safeguarding the participation of all stakeholders – including civil society and local communities – are essential to ensure the “Team Europe” approach stays true to its development principles.
Reaffirming the Commitment to People-Centred Partnerships
The Joint Communication signals a step forward for EU global leadership and a more unified approach to partnerships. However, the path to achieving sustainable and inclusive development requires more than strategic alliances and economic investments. It demands the active participation of civil society, a strong commitment to addressing social inequalities, and a careful balancing of development goals with geopolitical considerations, as enshrined in the EU treaties and legally binding agreements like the Samoa Agreement.
The EU must reaffirm its commitment to people-centred partnerships by ensuring that CSOs are at the heart of development cooperation, that resource allocation is based on need and sustainable impact rather than political strategy, and that transparency and accountability guide all its international actions.
The opportunity is now for the EU to lead by example, showing that true partnership is rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a vision for a sustainable future that leaves no one behind. It is not just about what “Team Europe” does, but how it does it – with people, not politics or self-interest, at the centre.
