Commissioner Jozef Síkela invited stakeholders to the first Implementation Dialogue on International Partnerships
Local and regional governments, together with Civil Society Organisations, discussed opportunities for simplification proposals in view of implementation of the Global Gateway strategy, during the First Implementation Dialogue on 24 June 2025 in Brussels.
This First Implementation Dialogue on International Partnerships[1], held by Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, was the follow up of a global session of the Policy Forum on Development (PFD)[2].
The event, attended by PLATFORMA Director Boris Tonhauser, provided a space for local and regional governments (LRGs), civil society organisations (CSOs), cooperatives, and other development actors to reflect on the future of EU development cooperation, with a strong focus on the Global Gateway initiative.
Commissioner Síkela opened the forum by presenting his strategic vision, noting that poverty cannot be addressed through charity alone but requires investment-driven solutions. Acknowledging that the European Union cannot close the development financing gap on its own, he underlined the importance of partnerships, especially in fragile contexts where civil society and local authorities are often the EU’s most reliable actors. He committed to working closely with these groups at every stage of the Global Gateway initiative, stressing their unique role in reaching local communities and driving progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Preserving distinct instruments and reinforcing funding
Members of the PFD Task Team followed with reflections and recommendations based on recent consultations and dialogues. They called for greater engagement of local actors in shaping Global Gateway projects and highlighted the need to safeguard civic space as a precondition for meaningful participation. The team urged the EU to preserve distinct instruments for international cooperation, humanitarian aid, and accession, while reinforcing the importance of funding that addresses the root causes of fragility rather than merely responding to crises.
Messages conveyed by the Director of PLATFORMA underscored the urgent need for the EU to better recognise and acknowledge local authorities as full-fledged partners in development cooperation. He called for the re-creation of dedicated focal points for local authorities within EU Delegations—mirroring those that currently exist for civil society—and for maintaining a dedicated Unit at DG INTPA to support long-term engagement. He urged the recognition of local and regional governments in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), including through formal framework partnership agreements.
Highlighting the essential role of LRGs in delivering and governing Global Gateway initiatives, he stressed the value they bring in building resilience in fragile contexts across six dimensions of fragility defined by the OECD—political, economic, security, environmental, human, and societal[3]. To consolidate this recognition, he proposed a new Commission Communication that would define and frame the role of LRGs within the Global Gateway strategy.
Financing was another critical theme. The PFD Task Team urged the EU to uphold its commitments to development financing by restoring dedicated thematic budget lines and ensuring that financial support for local actors is both increased and made more predictable. They also emphasised the need to strengthen platforms like the PFD as vehicles for trust-building, information sharing, and coordination among stakeholders at all levels.
Simplification of EU programmes
In the second part of the event, the dialogue shifted toward practical improvements in EU programme implementation, particularly around simplification. The task team offered concrete suggestions for tailoring EU procedures to local realities. They stressed that funding mechanisms must be flexible, accessible, and responsive to the needs of communities on the ground. Proposals included streamlining application and reporting processes, aligning administrative requirements across EU departments, and adapting eligibility criteria to reflect economic conditions in partner countries.
Specific emphasis was placed on improving access to information and reducing bureaucratic barriers. Participants called for more user-friendly websites, the translation of key documents into local languages, and the establishment of focal contact points in EU Delegations to guide local actors through complex procedures. They also recommended strengthening the capacity of small organisations and local governments through targeted support and simplified grant modalities.
«A performance-driven approach»
In his closing remarks, Commissioner Síkela reaffirmed his commitment to simplifying EU development cooperation—not to ease the burden on EU Delegations, but to better serve its partners. He advocated for a performance-driven approach that avoids unnecessary overhead, and stressed the importance of balancing urgent needs with long-term strategy. Above all, he emphasised that future success hinges on the ability of the EU to work directly and effectively with those closest to the challenges—local authorities, civil society, and the communities they represent.
This event marked a strong step toward more inclusive, grounded, and effective development partnerships, placing local and regional governments at the heart of the EU’s international agenda.
[1] First Implementation Dialogue on International Partnerships, DG INTPA 2025
[2] Policy Forum on Development, EU 2025
[3] States of Fragility 2025, OECD 2025