European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Síkela at the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin Dublin, 4 June 2026 Ladies and gentlemen, It's a true pleasure to join you here in Dublin, at one of Europe's leading think tanks. We live in a world that feels increasingly unstable. Every day brings a new crisis, a new headline, or a new source of uncertainty – drone s...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Síkela at the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin Dublin, 4 June 2026 Ladies and gentlemen, It's a true pleasure to join you here in Dublin, at one of Europe's leading think tanks. We live in a world that feels increasingly unstable. Every day brings a new crisis, a new headline, or a new source of uncertainty – drone strikes, trade wars, political tensions. There is certainly no shortage of action. But what the world needs now is more thinking. More space to reflect. More honest debate. More cooperation. Precisely the kind of conversation you have here at the Institute of International and European Affairs. Your role is particularly important right now, as Ireland prepares to take up the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in July. Because the question facing Europe today is not whether the world is changing. It clearly is. The question is how Europe chooses to respond. In a contested world, how do we remain economically competitive, politically resilient, and most importantly – true to our values? The EU's Global Gateway Strategy, which I'll I will speak about shortly, is part of Europe's answer to that question. But first, let me take a closer look at the context behind it. Over the past year, values have begun to disappear from many international debates. And cooperation based on rules and mutual benefit is disappearing along with them. Russia's brutal assault on Ukraine continues. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has widened to Lebanon and threatens the broader Middle East. At the same time, we've seen the trend towards transactionalism. Many global actors have begun to assert their power through wars, cash, or coercion. Some challenge international law and human rights in pursuit of their objectives. Others use trade, infrastructure support, or security assistance as tools for influence. Any superiority – in energy, infrastructure, even health – can be used as a weapon. But has this “me-first” approach made the world more prosperous or more secure? Countries and citizens everywhere are struggling with debt and inflation. And some of the world's most pressing challenges remain unaddressed: The past 11 years have been the warmest in human history The Ebola and Hantavirus outbreaks remind us how fragile the global health is. The investment gap to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals has been widening and now stands at over USD 4 trillion per year. The idea that self-interest can deliver long-term prosperity in a connected world is an illusion. When self-interest prevails over rules, everyone loses. So how should Europe respond to this new reality? Recent events have exposed Europe's strategic vulnerabilities. They've shown how easily our dependencies can be exploited. At the same time, the EU remains firmly committed to the rules-based order and the values that underpin it. That means Europe must become more strategic in how we build partnerships and protect our interests, but also deliver concrete benefits to our partners alike This brings me to Global Gateway, the EU's answer to a world where economic power has become a matter of security. Global Gateway is sometimes described as simply an investment strategy. But it is so much more than that. It's about boosting resilience – for Europe and for our partners. It begins with dialogue. We work with countries to identify where our interests and capabilities overlap. Together we put together investment packages that reach far beyond bricks and mortar. Our investments also support good governance, sustainable debt, environmental standards, education, gender equality and local skill development. To deliver Global Gateway, we use what we call the Team Europe approach. This brings together the EU institutions, Member States, development banks, and the private sector. At a time when development funding is declining globally, private investment is critical. Before Covid, the SDG financing gap was around USD 2.5 trillion a year. Today, it is over USD 4 trillion. At the same time, the assets managed by the world's largest asset managers have grown from around EUR 90 trillion to almost EUR 130 trillion.By blending grants, concessional loans, and guarantees, the EU takes some of the risk out of investment. In this way, public funding helps attract private investment to the countries that need it most. And our approach is already delivering results. Since 2021, Team Europe has mobilised 306 billion euros in sustainable investment around the world – from clean energy to digital networks to transport corridors. For example, the EU invests in 12 economic and development corridors in Africa. One of them is the Lobito Corridor, which connects the Atlantic coast in Angola to the Copperbelt region in Zambia and the DRC. Team Europe has mobilised 2 billion euro to help extend and upgrade the corridor. But our work goes far beyond building roads and railways. We're supporting vocational training on logistics, skills development in mineral processing, and climate-smart agriculture – so young people can access new job opportunities. We're helping local SMEs access finance, meet international standards, and join supply chains. And we're investing in solar energy and off-grid electricity solutions, so that schools, communities, and small businesses have reliable power. Let me give one concrete example. Just last November, I visited Zambia, where we reinforced our support for local agri-businesses and women-led SMEs. This helps local entrepreneurs access the finance they need to grow, create jobs and benefit from new opportunities around the Lobito Corridor. In the coming weeks, the first shipment of avocados grown along the Lobito Corridor will arrive in Europe. That may sound like a small thing. But it shows what real partnership can achieve. Through collaboration we're building an economic lifeline in Africa – one that can fuel growth throughout the region and beyond. At the same time, we're cultivating reliable supply chains for Europe, including critical raw materials like copper and cobalt, the building blocks of our clean and digital future. Let me give another example, this time from the health sector. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed major global inequalities, African leaders called for greater independence in vaccine and pharmaceutical production. At the time, Africa imported almost 99% of its vaccines. The African Union set a target to produce 60% of vaccines locally by 2040. Team Europe responded through Global Gateway. Today, we have mobilised nearly 2 billion euro to support vaccine manufacturing, skill development, and health care systems across Africa. Vaccine production sites are taking shape in Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa. Together, these facilities are expected to produce up to 500 million vaccine doses per year. In Rwanda, Team Europe partnered with BioNTech to launch Africa's first mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility. European universities are helping to train the next generation of researchers and health professionals. And through partnerships on regulation, research, and supply chains, we're developing a complete pharmaceutical ecosystem. Another example. This year in Washington, we announced a new investment to build Africa's first end- to-end multi-vaccine manufacturing facility in South Africa. It will produce up to 40 million doses a year and create skilled jobs locally. This is what Global Gateway is about. Transferring cutting-edge technology. Creating opportunities. And building partnerships where both Africa and Europe emerge stronger. These examples are just two of more than 250 Global Gateway initiatives around the world. In many cases, I have seen personally how these investments change lives in local communities. Whether it's building the world's tallest hydropower dam in Tajikistan… Expanding digital connectivity across Latin America … Or turning seaweed waste into an economic opportunity across the Caribbean… Global Gateway is investing in strategic projects that deliver for Europe and our partners alike. If there's an engine behind Global Gateway, it's the Team Europe approach. And Ireland plays an important role. Ireland is already involved in 27 Team Europe initiatives, including a Global Gateway flagship in Petén, Guatemala. Petén is among the world regions most vulnerable to climate change, and much of the local population depends on natural resources. Through partnership with the EU institutions, 4 Member States, and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN, Ireland has helped mobilised more than 50 million euro. The initiative encompasses everything from climate-resilient agriculture and forest management to sustainable tourism and capacity development. Together, we aim to improve lives and livelihoods, while also contributing to the EU's green goals. I welcome Ireland's ambition to create an Irish Team National, which will make it easier for private sector to engage with Global Gateway. With its strengths in digital technology, pharmaceuticals, medtech, and development cooperation, Ireland is exceptionally well placed to be a strong member of Team Europe and expand our impact. Dear Colleagues, These days it can feel as though the international order is being rewritten in real time. Every morning seems to bring more troubling news. Conflict on Europe's borders. Climate disasters. Pressure on energy systems and supply chains. Pandemics that spread fear across entire continents. But in my meetings with leaders across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, I also hear something else. I hear that countries still want reliable partnerships. They want trust. They want fairness. And they want cooperation that benefits both sides. This is exactly what the EU offers. And this is why scaling up Global Gateway is so important. Ireland's Presidency comes at an important moment for Europe. A defining moment that requires fresh thinking, strategic clarity, and strong partnerships. I believe Ireland is uniquely placed to help lead that conversation. And I look forward to what we can achieve together. Thank you. SPEECH/26/1271
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