Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether British organisations will be able to participate in the procurement process for infrastructure projects that will be funded by the EU in its €150 billion investment in infrastructure in Africa under the Global Gateway programme.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
EU Global Gateway projects are developed and delivered through Team Europe Initiatives. The EU, EU Member States, and European financial institutions work together with European businesses as well as governments, civil society and the private sector in partner countries.
UK entities are eligible to participate in procurement procedures for actions financed under the "Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) - Global Europe" geographic programmes and the Global Challenges thematic programme where contracts are implemented in Least Developed Countries or highly indebted poor countries that are eligible to receive Official Development Assistance (see Article 28(1)(f) of the Regulation (EU) 2021/947- EUR-Lex - 32021R0947 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)). The UK does not contribute to the NDICI, which includes the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+). The EFSD+ is the main financial tool for mobilising investments under the Global Gateway, providing guarantees for de-risking activities and leveraging private investment. The UK does not contribute to EFSD+ investments and UK entities are not eligible for guarantees or other financial instruments.