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The European Union invests hundreds of billions of dollars in global infrastructure projects under the “Global Gateway” program, which appears to counter China’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has been criticized as a means of expansion. The plan to develop the influence of Beijing around the world.
The European Commission (EC), the executive body of the EU, Said on December 1st By 2027, the scheme will invest $ 340 billion (€ 300 billion), strengthening links to global digital, energy, transportation, health, education and research systems.
“Global gateways offer value-based options that partner countries can choose when deciding how to meet their infrastructure development needs,” EC said in a statement.pdf) Details of the new program, billed on the basis of democratic values and high standards.
“This means complying with the rule of law, adhering to high standards of human rights, social rights and workers’ rights, and respecting norms from international rules and standards to intellectual property.” The committee said. “It means taking an ethical approach to avoiding unsustainable debt and unwanted dependencies on infrastructure projects.”
China launched the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013 to strengthen trade relations with the rest of the world, and has spent heavily on infrastructure projects in many countries. However, critics say Beijing’s funding terms are often disadvantageous, lacking in transparency, and that some countries rely on China through debt.
recently study From AidData, the institute of William & Mary’s Global Institute, We analyzed 13,427 China-sponsored projects in more than 165 countries and found that 35% of the Belt and Road projects deal with implementation issues such as corruption scandals, labor violations and environmental hazards.
“In low- and middle-income countries, more and more policy makers are stopping the hottest BRI projects because of high prices, corruption, and debt sustainability concerns,” said Brad Parks, one of the authors of the study. Said.
In announcing the launch of Global Gateway, the EC said the program “funds on fair and favorable terms to limit the risk of debt suffering.”
“Without proper transparency, good governance, and a high level of project, a project can be improperly selected or designed, left incomplete, or used to promote corruption. This can hinder growth, deprive communities, and ultimately create dependencies and limit a country’s decision-making ability, “the EC added.
EC Chair Ursula von der Leyen called the new program a “true alternative” to China’s Belt and Road Initiative and announced the Global Gateway at a press conference.
In the State of the Union address Address in mid-september Regarding the development of the Global Gateway, Von der Leyen pointed out the shortcomings of the existing framework of engagement between the EU and the Indo-Pacific region and lamented that “the dictatorship is trying to use it to expand its influence.” ..
“We are good at financing roads, but it doesn’t make sense for Europe to build a perfect road between a Chinese-owned copper mine and a Chinese-owned port,” Von der Leyen said at the time. ..
She said the Global Gateway was “a template for how Europe redesigns its models to connect the world.” “I want to create a link, not a dependency.”
The EC also said the program would support a global economic recovery and boost the global supply chain. The vulnerability was revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Tom Ozimek has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communication, and adult education. The best writing advice he has ever heard is from Roy Peter Clark.
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