On 15 July 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted draft conclusions on a globally connected Europe, setting out the EU's approach to sustainable connectivity and inviting the Commission and High Representative to implement specific actions globally. The document affirms connectivity as a key pillar of EU regional strategies, with sustainability, a level playing field, and a rules-based approach at its core.
The draft conclusions recall the 2018 Joint Communication "Connecting Europe and Asia" and emphasise that connectivity supports the European Green Deal and Digital Agenda. The COVID-19 pandemic, the Council notes, exposed the strategic importance of connectivity for economic security and resilient digital ecosystems. Investments in connectivity that respect social, climate, and fiscal sustainability can strengthen growth and competitiveness, particularly for post-COVID recovery.
The Council insists that all international connectivity initiatives must apply the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment as a minimum, contributing to the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. It welcomes EU partnerships with Japan (September 2019) and India (May 2021), and the commitment to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN (December 2020).
The Commission and High Representative are invited to implement a Team Europe approach, identify high-impact projects globally, incentivise sustainable investments, mobilise the private sector, and ensure visibility through strategic communication. The conclusions represent a geostrategic commitment to a sustainable connectivity agenda, with concrete implementation steps for EU institutions.
Stakeholder impact EU businesses and infrastructure investors stand to benefit from clearer sustainability criteria and potential co-financing opportunities under the Team Europe approach, but may face higher compliance costs linked to the G20 Principles. EU member states will need to align national connectivity projects with the new framework, potentially slowing down some initiatives. Developing partner countries could gain access to more sustainable infrastructure financing, though they may face stricter environmental and social conditions. EU civil society and environmental groups are likely to welcome the emphasis on climate and social sustainability, but may push for stronger enforcement mechanisms.