NEW DEADLINE: Thursday 4 May, 14.00 (CEST)
The deadline to apply to the Global Gateway Business Advisory Group expert group has been extended. Applications can now be submitted until Thursday 4 May at 14.00 (CEST) at the latest. This is to provide additional time to answer questions about the functioning of the Global Gateway Business Advisory Group raised by potential applicants and to allow for application preparation.
An explicative note from the Q&A session held on Tuesday 25 April 2023 is available in the related documents section below.
Applicants who have already sent their applications do not need to reapply under this extended call.
On 1 December 2021, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented the Joint Communication on Global Gateway.
Delivered in a Team Europe approach, Global Gateway intends to boost smart, clean and secure links in the digital, climate, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen education, research and health systems across the world.
To support the full mobilisation of the private sector and maximise the impact and effectiveness of Global Gateway investments, an informal Commission expert group called the Global Gateway Business Advisory Group (BAG) is being set up. Through this expert group, the Global Gateway strategy will benefit from the business perspective for its planning and implementation.
The group's mission
The mission of the group will be to assist the Commission to strengthen cooperation on Global Gateway strategy and implementation with the European private sector in a structured way.
The group will provide a forum to discuss and gather feedback on the strategic orientations of Global Gateway. It will collect input from private sector representatives on their priorities, activities, challenges and opportunities in sectors and regions covered by Global Gateway, as well as discuss the implementation of the strategy.
Group members and selection procedure
The Commission is calling for applications to select members of the group. The group will be composed of up to 60 members and up to 10 observers.
Members will be organisations from the EU private sector, headquartered in the European Union and under EU control. Organisations will include companies of all sizes. EU trade and business associations, as well as established EU business networks, can also apply for membership.
European financial institutions, such as the European Investment Bank or the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development may be granted an observer status by direct invitation.
Members of the group shall be appointed by the Directors-General of the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) and the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), after consultation with associated Commission services, from applicants with competence in the areas referred to in point 2.1 of the call for applications and who have responded to the call for applications.
Selection criteria
- members shall represent the EU private sector, having proven and relevant competence and experience in one or more of the sectors and geographical zones defined as part of this call for applications
- members shall demonstrate a track record of alignment to EU objectives taking into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and having integrated recognised practices in this area
- specifically for EU trade associations, business associations and established EU business networks: represent the private sector from at least three EU Member States
- member’s representatives from EU companies/social enterprises, EU trade or business associations and established EU business networks must be at CEO or senior executive level, and sufficiently proficient in the English language to allow active participation in the discussions and effectively represent the position of their organisation
EU companies/social enterprises (as defined in the Communication on Social Business Initiative COM(2011)682), EU trade and business associations, and established EU business networks (“members”) eligible to this call for applications are
- headquartered in the EU and under EU control with a specific contribution and adherence to EU interests and values – private sector stakeholders from third countries are not eligible
- for EU companies and groups of companies: those whose number of employees and turnover or balance sheet total are higher than those of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as defined in the Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003 (C(2003)1422.