SolarPower Europe recently hosted a workshop focused on how European solar companies can engage with and benefit from the EU’s Global Gateway strategy. The session brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB), development finance institutions, development agencies, and members of the solar industry.
The main objective was to explore how the Global Gateway can support partner countries while also strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and strategic independence in the solar sector. The discussion reflected a broader shift in EU development policy. Instead of relying mainly on traditional aid, the EU is now moving toward an investment-driven approach. This model combines public policy goals with private sector participation, blended finance, and technical cooperation to scale up sustainable investments globally.
Máté Heisz, Chief Operating Officer of SolarPower Europe, opened the workshop by highlighting how this shift creates new opportunities for European solar companies. He explained that companies can not only contribute to development projects but also benefit from stronger investment frameworks and expanded international opportunities.
Erica Gerretsen from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) explained the background of the Global Gateway initiative. Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, she pointed out that Europe recognized the need for greater strategic autonomy in critical sectors like energy. This led to a move toward building stronger value chains, increasing private sector involvement, and focusing on partnerships that deliver mutual benefits.
Francisco Gaztelu from the Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA) stressed that Europe can remain competitive in global solar markets, but only if public policies and private sector actions are closely aligned. He emphasized the importance of acting quickly and using the Global Gateway as a practical framework to drive investment and deliver results.
Participants agreed that Europe needs to focus on parts of the solar value chain where it has clear strengths. They also highlighted the importance of better coordination between policy tools, financial instruments, and cooperation mechanisms. Moving beyond isolated projects toward more integrated, large-scale approaches was seen as essential for competing effectively in global markets.
During the session, SolarPower Europe presented a new position paper outlining key recommendations to improve EU development cooperation. These included better risk mitigation tools, stronger support for early-stage project development, improved coordination among financial institutions, greater transparency within the Global Gateway Investment Hub, and closer links between financing and technical assistance.
The first roundtable discussion focused on the changing role of EU development finance. Representatives from DG INTPA, DG MENA, the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), and the European Investment Bank discussed how financial tools, procurement strategies, and early engagement can better support European solar companies abroad. Industry participants stressed the need for a more unified European approach that strengthens the entire solar value chain and improves global competitiveness.
Several practical challenges were also discussed. Participants called for stronger support for European solar manufacturing, including equipment providers and next-generation technologies. They also emphasized the need for better financial support at the early stages of projects, such as concessional finance, risk-sharing tools, and feasibility funding. These measures would help turn project ideas into bankable investments and reduce financing costs. In addition, there was a suggestion to move from funding individual projects to supporting multiple projects or entire companies to scale impact more quickly.
The second roundtable focused on the role of technical cooperation and development agencies. Jean Van Wetter, CEO of Enabel, highlighted how technical assistance can improve regulations, strengthen project preparation, build local expertise, and make investments more viable. Participants agreed that Europe can stand out globally by offering integrated solutions that combine technology, financing, skills development, and long-term partnerships. The workshop concluded with SolarPower Europe reaffirming its commitment to ongoing collaboration with EU institutions, financial bodies, development agencies, and industry stakeholders.
The organization also announced next steps, including follow-up discussions, continued policy engagement, and the development of pilot projects across solar manufacturing and deployment to demonstrate the practical benefits of the Global Gateway approach. Overall, the event highlighted a forward-looking strategy for Europe’s solar sector, focusing on stronger cooperation, faster implementation, and greater global competitiveness.
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