On 10 July 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted revised draft conclusions on a globally connected Europe, setting out a geostrategic connectivity agenda for EU institutions and member states. The document calls for extending the EU-Asia connectivity approach to Africa, the Arctic, the Middle East, Latin America, the Western Balkans, and the European Neighbourhood, and requests the Commission and the High Representative to implement the agenda globally using a Team Europe approach that pools EU institutions, member states, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and national financial institutions.
The conclusions direct the Commission and High Representative to take several concrete actions: identify high-impact projects; map initiatives since the 2018 Joint Communication on EU-Asia connectivity; integrate connectivity into the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework programming, including the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance III and the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument/Global Europe; and present a financing scheme that pools public and private resources. The Council also calls for the creation of a Business Advisory Group, enhanced visibility through a unifying narrative and branding, and annual progress reports to the Council.
The document welcomes existing partnerships with Japan (September 2019) and India (May 2021), as well as the EU-ASEAN joint Ministerial Statement of December 2020. The revised conclusions build on the 2018 Joint Communication and aim to give the EU a stronger geopolitical role in global infrastructure and connectivity, competing with initiatives such as China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Stakeholder impact The strategy has several implications for key stakeholders. EU businesses, particularly in infrastructure, transport, energy, and digital sectors, stand to gain from new project opportunities and a Business Advisory Group that gives them a formal voice in shaping connectivity projects. EU taxpayers and member states may face increased financial commitments through the pooling of public resources, though the strategy aims to leverage private investment to reduce the burden. Partner countries in Africa, Latin America, and other regions could benefit from EU-funded infrastructure and sustainable development projects, but may also face conditions tied to EU standards and governance requirements. The European Commission and the European External Action Service will bear the main implementation burden, required to coordinate across multiple regions and report annually to the Council.
Institutional follow-up The Commission and the High Representative are expected to present a financing scheme and identify high-impact projects in the coming months. The first annual progress report to the Council is anticipated within a year. The Council's conclusions are non-binding but set a strong political direction for EU institutions and member states.