The European Union’s Global Gateway, adopted in December 2021, marks the
continuation of eforts by numerous international actors to limit China’s increasing
infuence in global infrastructure diplomacy. Tis FIIA Working Paper analyzes the
role of the EU’s connectivity agenda in this crowded market and positions the Global
Gateway in the context of EU external relations. Based on a conceptual and policy
analysis, and a review of analyst debate and cross-cutting literature, the paper makes
three key observations.
Firstly, the EU institutions, sometimes siloed, as well as the member states, divided
in their China politics, have managed to agree on a comprehensive policy programme
which – on paper – connects existing economic tools to a foreign policy vision of the
Union. Secondly, successful delivery of the high-politics yet hands-on programme
will, however, require connecting diplomatic and technical expertise, and public and
private fnancing. Tirdly, the normative agenda embedded in the Gateway builds on
a conventional role for the EU as a global actor, but can be expected to face challenges
with its simultaneous goal of achieving a comprehensive reach.