Cabo Verde EU cooperation

The Global Gateway strategy

The Global Gateway Strategy: A New Era of European Infrastructure Investment and its Transformation of Cabo Verde

The European Union's development policy has undergone a significant paradigm shift with the introduction of the Global Gateway strategy. Moving beyond traditional aid models, this initiative represents a geopolitical effort to bridge the global investment gap through sustainable, value-based partnerships. Nowhere is this strategic evolution more visible than in the archipelagic nation of Cabo Verde, where the EU is deploying a "Team Europe" approach to overhaul the country's energy, digital, and maritime infrastructure.

1. The Global Gateway Strategy: General Principles and Ambitions

Launched in late 2021, the Global Gateway is the EU's "positive offer" to partner countries to narrow the global investment gap, aiming to mobilize up to €300 billion in public and private investments between 2021 and 2027,. It serves as a counterweight to other global infrastructure initiatives, positioning the EU as a partner promoting democratic values, high standards, and transparency,.

Core Pillars and Regional Focus The strategy focuses on five priority sectors: digital transformation, climate and energy, transport, health, and education and research,. A significant portion of this ambition is directed toward Africa; the Africa-Europe Investment Package aims to deliver €150 billion of the total target to support the continent's strategic autonomy and integration,.

The "Team Europe" Approach and Financial Instruments Crucially, the Global Gateway is not funded solely by the EU budget. It utilizes a Team Europe approach, pooling resources from the EU, its Member States, their implementing agencies, and development finance institutions like the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD),. The primary financial instrument facilitating this is the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI–Global Europe), which uses the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) to provide guarantees that "de-risk" projects, thereby crowding in private sector capital,.

The strategy emphasizes creating "links, not dependencies," ensuring that investments are sustainable and do not leave partner countries with unmanageable debt burdens,.

2. The Global Gateway in Cabo Verde: A Strategic Testing Ground

Cabo Verde stands out as a prime beneficiary of the Global Gateway, reflecting its status as a stable democracy and a strategic partner in the Atlantic. The EU-Cabo Verde Special Partnership has evolved into a robust investment relationship, with the EU supporting the country's "Ambition 2030" vision.

In September 2024, Team Europe and the Government of Cabo Verde signed a financing package totaling €300 million. This investment is targeted at three critical sectors: renewable energy, digital connectivity, and port infrastructure,.

A. The Green Energy Transition

Cabo Verde faces high energy costs and a heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels, which account for over 60% of its energy mix. The Global Gateway aims to help the country achieve 50% renewable energy penetration by 2030 and 100% by 2040,.

Pumped Storage and Grid Modernization: A flagship project involves the design and construction of a pumped storage facility on Santiago Island. Supported by €159 million in Team Europe funding (involving the EIB, EU, and Luxembourg), this system is essential for storing renewable energy and stabilizing the grid, allowing for a reduction in fossil fuel dependence,. Luxembourg has played a pivotal role in coordinating these multi-stakeholder investments.
Wind Power Expansion: The EIB has provided a €39 million loan to expand the Cabeólica wind farm. This project adds 13.5 MW of new wind capacity and includes the installation of 26 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across four islands. This intervention is a model for small island states, aiming to reduce energy costs and emissions,,.

B. The Blue Economy and Maritime Transport

Given its location, Cabo Verde aims to become a maritime and logistics hub in the mid-Atlantic. The Global Gateway is supporting this via the "Sustainable Ports" initiative.

Port Modernization: A financing package of €105 million (approx. $116 million) has been allocated to expand and modernize strategic ports, specifically Porto Grande (São Vicente), Porto Novo (Santo Antão), and Porto da Palmeira (Sal),.
Strategic Corridors: These investments align with the Praia-Dakar-Abidjan multimodal transport corridor, a strategic priority for integrating West African transport networks,. The initiative also includes the rehabilitation of the CABNAVE shipyard, strengthening the country's naval repair capacity.

C. Digital Connectivity

The Global Gateway supports Cabo Verde's ambition to become a "Cyber Island" and a digital hub for West Africa, leveraging its position at the intersection of major submarine cables.

Submarine Infrastructure: A €37 million investment aims to connect Cabo Verde to a new state-of-the-art submarine cable system linking Europe to West Africa. Furthermore, it funds the replacement of the passive fiber-optic cables that interconnect the archipelago's islands, ensuring high-speed, reliable domestic connectivity,.
Technological Ecosystem: These infrastructure upgrades complement investments in the Cabo Verde Technology Park (TechPark CV), financed largely by the African Development Bank but supported by the broader ecosystem the EU is helping to build. The TechPark aims to host international tech firms and foster a digital economy that contributes 25% to the national GDP by 2030,.

summary

Through the Global Gateway, the EU is transitioning its relationship with Cabo Verde from traditional development cooperation to a strategic economic partnership. By mobilizing over €300 million for energy autonomy, digital sovereignty, and maritime logistics, the EU is not only supporting Cabo Verde's "Ambition 2030" but also securing a stable, green, and connected partner in the Atlantic,.

Cabo Verde Eu cooperation the Global Gateway strategy

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