top of page

1. Introduction

The European Union is today one of the main global actors in the political, economic, and social spheres. Through an articulated network of financial instruments, bilateral agreements, and geopolitical strategies, the EU promotes stability, prosperity, and cooperation with third countries.

2. Internationalisation Tools

Within the framework of its external action, the European Union has developed a series of strategic tools to promote international cooperation, regional stability, and sustainable development in third countries. These tools not only strengthen the Union's geopolitical presence but also offer concrete opportunities for participation for stakeholders from Member States, including Chambers of Commerce and European SMEs. Through calls for proposals, partnerships, and funded projects, these actors can actively contribute to the implementation of European internationalisation policies, while simultaneously benefiting from new opportunities for growth and international cooperation.

2.1. Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III)

IPA III is the EU's main financial instrument for supporting candidate countries for accession. With a budget of over €14 billion for the period 2021-2027, it funds political, economic, and institutional reforms, promoting the rule of law, human rights, and democratic governance. The beneficiary countries are: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey. In particular, Turkey receives technical and financial assistance in areas such as justice, civil society, and the environment, despite a complex political context.

  • For more information click here.

2.2. NDICI – Global Europe

NDICI is the EU's main programme for funding external projects between 2021 and 2027, with almost €80 billion. The funds are distributed among various regions and global themes such as climate, health, and human rights. SMEs can access funds for sustainable projects and green investments. The programme's objectives are ambitious and global in scope: to support the most vulnerable countries in the long term, contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, promote the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate, and spread the Union's fundamental values, such as democracy, peace, and multilateral cooperation.

  • For more information click here.

2.3. Global Gateway

In 2021, the European Union launched the Global Gateway strategy with the aim of strengthening its presence on the international stage, focusing on investments in sustainable infrastructure and targeted partnerships with third countries. The initiative was created as a response to growing global geopolitical competition and aims to promote a development model based on transparency, sustainability, and democratic values, offering a credible alternative to less transparent investment models proposed by other actors. The overall objective is to mobilise up to €300 billion by 2027, through a combination of financial instruments and partnerships.

  • For more information click here.

2.4. EU Regional Approach

To translate the international vision into concrete actions, the European Union has developed a targeted regional approach. Each geographical area receives interventions calibrated to its specific needs, with the objective of maximising the impact of investments and strengthening ties with partner countries.

The Western Balkans

With €6 billion, the EU promotes reforms and economic integration in the Balkans, with a view to accession to the Union. Priorities include justice, public administration, infrastructure, and access to the single market. The plan is linked to the completion of national reforms, which are followed and evaluated.

  • The Western Balkans (which include Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) occupy a central role in the European Union's enlargement policy. All these countries are involved in paths of rapprochement with the EU, albeit with varying degrees of progress. The Union's objective is to promote political stability, stimulate economic growth, strengthen democratic governance, and counter the influence of external actors like Russia and China. In 2023, the EU launched an ambitious Growth Plan for the period 2024-2027, with an overall allocation of €6 billion, divided into €2 billion in grants and €4 billion in concessional loans. Access to funds is conditional on the implementation of priority reforms, defined in national Reform Agendas: each completed reform allows a portion of the funding to be unlocked. The plan is structured around four main axes: progressive access to the European single market, regional economic integration among the Balkan countries, the acceleration of reforms in key sectors such as justice and public administration, and the strengthening of pre-accession funding through the IPA III instrument.

    ​

    For more information click here.

The Eastern Neighbourhood

The EU supports the integration of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia with an extraordinary package of €50 billion. Projects focus on energy, digital, health, transport, and education, with the aim of strengthening resilience and regulatory convergence with the EU. The region is strategic for European stability.

  • The Eastern Neighbourhood is a fundamental area for the European Union's foreign policy, especially in light of geopolitical tensions with Russia. It includes countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia, which in recent years have strengthened their ties with the EU, in some cases initiating a formal accession process. An emblematic case is that of Ukraine, which after the Russian invasion in 2022 accelerated its path towards the Union. After signing the Association Agreement in 2017, the country obtained candidate status in June 2022, opened negotiations in December 2023, and started technical screening in July 2024. To support this path, the EU established the Ukraine Facility, an extraordinary package of €50 billion (2024-2027), destined for reconstruction, democratic reforms, the green and digital transition, and integration into the single market. Moldova also obtained candidate country status in 2022, while Georgia, although not yet a candidate, is considered a priority partner, with prospects of accession linked to democratic progress. Armenia, on the other hand, while not having requested accession, maintains close cooperation with the EU through a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (Armenia-EU CEPA), focused on governance, human rights, and economic development. Through the Global Gateway programme, the EU funds projects in the region, including: Energy: electricity interconnections between Moldova and Romania, and between Georgia and the EU; Digital: submarine cables in the Black Sea and digital logistics centres; Health: hospitals and health infrastructure in Ukraine and Moldova; Education: modernisation of preschool education; Transport: trade corridors such as the "Solidarity Lanes". The overall objective is to strengthen energy resilience, support post-war reconstruction, promote regulatory convergence with the EU, and counter Russian influence, thus contributing to regional stability.

    ​

    For more information click here.

The Southern Neighbourhood

North Africa and the Middle East are priorities for the EU in terms of energy, migration, and stability. Projects concern electricity interconnections, digitalisation, sustainable transport, health, and resilient agriculture. The EU aims to strengthen energy security and regional economic cooperation.

  • The Southern Neighbourhood includes the countries of North Africa and the Middle East bordering the Mediterranean, including Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. This region is of crucial importance for the European Union, both in terms of energy security and geopolitical stability, and for the management of migratory flows and the promotion of sustainable development. The EU aims to strengthen political and economic cooperation with these countries, supporting the energy transition, digitalisation, coordinated management of migration, and the promotion of regional stability. Through the NDICI – Global Europe programme, approximately €19.3 billion has been allocated for the period 2021-2027, destined to fund democratic reforms, infrastructure in key sectors, education, training, and the strengthening of civil society. Within the framework of the Global Gateway strategy, the EU has launched numerous infrastructure and cooperation projects. In the energy sector, electricity interconnections such as the ELMED project between Tunisia and Italy stand out, a submarine power line that will connect the electricity grids of the two countries to favour security, sustainability, and the exchange of renewable energy. On the digital front, the MEDUSA submarine cable is underway, as well as the modernisation of air traffic control systems. Sustainable transport is promoted through the introduction of electric trams and buses (in Morocco and Jordan) and the enhancement of railways (in Egypt). Other interventions concern health and the environment, with the construction of hospitals, water and waste management (in Egypt and Jordan), and support for sustainable agriculture through resilient practices and efficient water resource management. The EU's strategic priorities in the region include strengthening energy security through green partnerships, promoting inclusive economic development, supporting youth employment, strengthening cross-border cooperation, and combating the root causes of irregular migration.

    ​

    For more information click here.

Sub-Saharan Africa

The EU allocates €29 billion to support the green and digital transition, health, and technical training. Africa is the region with the highest number of Global Gateway projects, with a focus on renewable energy, connectivity, transport, and biodiversity. The objective is to promote sustainable development and equitable partnerships.

  • Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the priority regions for the European Union's international cooperation. The region is at the centre of EU efforts to address shared global challenges, such as climate change, food security, migration, and the energy transition. Through the NDICI – Global Europe programme, the EU has allocated approximately €29 billion for the period 2021-2027 to support projects that promote sustainable and inclusive development, strengthen climate and health resilience, and favour the green and digital transition. Particular attention is also paid to peace, security, and democratic governance. Africa is the region with the highest number of projects funded under the Global Gateway, distributed across six main sectors: Digital: initiatives such as AfricaConnect4, the creation of data centres, and the improvement of internet connectivity; Energy and climate: development of green hydrogen (in Morocco and Namibia), solar and hydroelectric plants; Health: programmes such as MAV+ (Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines) for local vaccine production, construction of hospitals and health centres; Education and training: promotion of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and youth mobility; Transport: investments in ports, railways, and sustainable urban transport systems; Environment and biodiversity: projects such as NaturAfrica, forest management, and sustainable agricultural practices. The EU's strategic priorities in the region aim to strengthen energy sovereignty, improve access to clean energy, create decent jobs, promote equitable partnerships, and combat the root causes of irregular migration.

    ​

    For more information click here.

Asia and the Pacific

The Asia and Pacific region are central to the EU's strategy on innovation, security, and sustainability. The EU invests in clean energy, digital, health, transport, and advanced technologies, with particular attention to cooperation with ASEAN, India, Japan, and Australia. The approach also includes defence, cybersecurity, and tech diplomacy.

  • The region is now a point of reference for the European Union, not only for its economic relevance but also for its vital role in global security, technological innovation, and the resilience of supply chains. The EU promotes sustainable partnerships with countries such as India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and ASEAN nations, through targeted investments, bilateral agreements, and technical cooperation. Since 2021, the European commitment has been guided by the Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, which aims to strengthen shared prosperity, regional security, and a rules-based international order. Priorities include the green transition, digital governance, maritime security, sustainable connectivity, defence, and human security. The EU has intensified cooperation with key partners through: Bilateral agreements with Japan (connectivity, green alliance, digital partnership and security), South Korea (digital partnership and defence), India (Trade and Technology Council), Australia (MoU on critical raw materials); Regional dialogues with ASEAN, which in 2024 reaffirmed the joint commitment to economic resilience, the green transition, and security; Trade agreements under negotiation with Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Under the NDICI – Global Europe programme, the EU has allocated approximately €8.5 billion (2021-2027) to fund projects in the energy, environment, health, education, digital, and transport sectors. The Asia-Pacific is also a laboratory for technological innovation, with projects in: Energy: partnerships for the energy transition in Vietnam and Indonesia, hydroelectric projects in Nepal and Tajikistan, and green hydrogen development in India; Digital: creation of the EU-Africa-India digital corridor, satellite connectivity, and smart cities in Indonesia; Health: construction of efficient hospitals in Mongolia, health infrastructure in Pakistan, and One Health initiatives in Cambodia; Education and training: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes in Pakistan and Laos, and projects for inclusive education in Nepal; Transport: development of road and railway corridors in Thailand and Papua New Guinea; Environment: reforestation projects in Uzbekistan and strengthening climate resilience in Pacific countries. The EU recognises that Indo-Pacific security is closely linked to European security, especially in light of the alignment between China and Russia, the growing role of North Korea, and tensions in the South China Sea. For this reason, it is strengthening cooperation in defence, maritime security, cybersecurity, and intelligence, also through future security and defence agreements with Japan, South Korea, and Australia. In parallel, the EU is developing a veritable tech diplomacy, promoting: Regulatory alignment with Indo-Pacific partners on AI, 6G, semiconductors, submarine cables, and clean technologies; Joint R&D initiatives through Horizon Europe; Public-private forums to integrate value chains between European and Asian companies; Partnerships on critical raw materials, such as the one already started with Australia, to be extended to other countries in the region. Finally, the region is at the centre of global technological competition. The EU responds with instruments such as the Chips Act, the Green Deal Industrial Plan, the Economic Security Strategy, and European common projects on cloud, hydrogen, and green technologies.

    ​

    For more information click here.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean represent for the European Union a region of importance for addressing familiar challenges related to climate, digital, and social inclusion. Through the NDICI programme, it funds projects in connectivity, green energy, health, education, and sustainable transport. The objective is to strengthen economic and infrastructural cooperation on shared foundations.

  • The EU considers the region a fundamental partner with which it has long maintained deep political, economic, and cultural relations. In a global context marked by environmental, digital, and social challenges, cooperation between the two regions is based on shared values such as democracy, human rights, and sustainable development. The EU considers this partnership essential to promote inclusive growth, strengthen climate and digital resilience, and tackle global challenges together.

    ​

    Through the NDICI – Global Europe programme, the Union funds a wide range of projects across the region:

    • Digital: Extension of the BELLA submarine cable, creation of the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator, opening of Copernicus centres (Panama, Chile);

    • Energy and Climate: Development of green hydrogen (Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil) and renewable energy sources (Jamaica, Colombia);

    • Health: Vaccine production (Mexico, Panama), strengthening of health resilience;

    • Education and Research: Technical schools (Haiti), digital ecosystems for education (Panama);

    • Transport: Electrification of public transport (Costa Rica, Peru), Lima metro;

    • Environment: Forest management (Amazonia+), bioeconomy, water management (Ecuador, Bolivia).

    ​

    The European approach to the region aims to strengthen digital and infrastructural connectivity, promote innovative and sustainable investments, support social cohesion, and foster regional integration. In this way, the EU intends to consolidate a modern, fair, and multi-level partnership, capable of contributing to the building of more inclusive, resilient, and interconnected societies.

    ​

    For more information click  qui 

bottom of page