On 8 July 2026, the European Union and its Member States reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) achievement in African countries, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) during an official meeting at the UN High Level Political Forum in New York. The intervention, delivered by Marie-Aurélie Vernin, Team Leader SDGs at European Commission DG INTPA, emphasized the EU's role as a steadfast partner and highlighted the Global Gateway strategy as the main external contribution to the 2030 Agenda.
The statement comes as the international community moves toward the High-Level Midterm Review of the Doha Programme of Action in March 2027, which addresses structural vulnerabilities of LDCs. The EU also voiced support for the Awaza Programme of Action for LLDCs for the Decade 2024–2034, calling for timely operationalization of agreed working bodies. The EU stressed that progress requires investment, stronger institutions, connectivity, productive capacity, climate resilience, and inclusive partnerships.
On financing, the EU committed to mobilizing increased and better-targeted resources, noting that Official Development Assistance remains essential but should catalyze private investment, domestic resource mobilization, and debt sustainability. The Global Gateway strategy was presented as the vehicle for sustainable investments in partner countries, with concrete examples cited: strategic transport corridors to improve logistics and trade links; regional power infrastructure such as the Ruzizi III hydropower project and the Zambia–Tanzania–Kenya Interconnector; and digital connectivity expansions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The EU underscored that democratic values, good governance, transparency, and equal partnerships are core principles of the Global Gateway approach.
The intervention did not announce new financial commitments but reiterated existing pledges and ongoing projects. Stakeholders impacted include LDC and LLDC governments, which may benefit from infrastructure and connectivity investments; EU taxpayers, who fund ODA and Global Gateway; private investors, who are expected to co-finance projects; and local populations in partner countries, who stand to gain from improved energy access, digital connectivity, and economic opportunities. The EU's emphasis on catalyzing private investment and domestic resource mobilization reflects a trade-off between leveraging limited public funds and ensuring that investments align with national priorities and sustainability goals.