Global Gateway: from EU policy to real opportunities for the Lithuanian economy.

Problem

Context

The European Union’s Global Gateway initiative was launched in 2021. Its core aims are to increase long-term partnerships across the developing world, more effectively utilise the EU’s development financing and increase private sector participation in development cooperation. The strategy promotes investment in both hard and soft infrastructure across five priority areas: digital, climate and energy, transport, health, and education and research.

The Global Gateway strategy was formed as a response to the widening gaps in global infrastructure financing, especially in key sectors relevant to the United Nation’s (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs). G20 projections place the global infrastructure investment deficit at €13 trillion by 2040 and, according to the UN, an estimated €3.5 trillion is needed annually to achieve the 2030 SDGs.

With traditional donor-based approaches to development cooperation remaining limited in addressing financing gaps of this scale, Global Gateway adopts a more investment-driven model. This model seeks to crowd in private-sector participation alongside public funding by de-risking investment using financial and non-financial measures. In this way, it is designed to transform the EU and its Member States from payers to players in international cooperation.

Since its introduction, Global Gateway has successfully mobilised over €300 billion in investments. It has supported numerous large-scale projects across primarily low- and middle-income countries by involving multiple Member States through a Team Europe approach. The strategy has mobilised the private sector and development cooperation ecosystem, including development cooperation agencies, development finance institutions, export credit agencies, trade promotion organisations, at EU and Member State levels.

For Lithuania, this initiative provides real opportunities to expand its international presence and position itself as a competitive partner in global development initiatives. For Lithuanian businesses, Global Gateway provides reduced-risk pathways to new markets and opportunities for closer collaboration with EU peers.

The issue

Global Gateway presents significant opportunities for Lithuania to engage in large-scale infrastructure development projects. However, the initiative’s multiple entry points and unclear support mechanisms make it difficult for both public and private sector stakeholders to understand how to access and realise these opportunities. Additionally, while Lithuania is in the process of establishing a national development finance institution and relevant instruments, their current absence creates further barriers to direct participation in Global Gateway projects.

Goal

The goal of the project is to assess whether it is feasible for Lithuanian stakeholders to participate in Global Gateway projects. The project seeks to define in which capacity Lithuanian entities can participate in Global Gateway activities and, identify where the most opportunities for participation lie.

Participants

2025/26

Clara Elspeth Doyle

2025/26

Emilija Abraitytė