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EU Statement – UN General Assembly and ECOSOC: Reimagining Public–Investor Partnerships

14.10.2025
New York

14 October 2025, New York, New York – European Union Statement by Renaud Savignat, EU Ambassador to ECOSOC and Head of the Section for Sustainable Development and International Partnerships, Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly Joint meeting of the Second Committee and ECOSOC on Reimagining Public–Investor Partnerships: Systems Finance for Inclusive Sustainability Transformations

 

Excellency, Distinguished Delegates, Esteemed Colleagues,

The EU fully agrees that system finance - finance that links public, private, and multilateral resources - has become more essential than ever. It is not just about funding projects; it is about creating financial ecosystems that support sustainable growth, strengthen autonomy, and deliver long-term value for all partners.

The UN has developed a tool that, through country ownership and leadership, allows to do just that. The European Union has been a strong supporter of the development and use of the Integrated National Financial Frameworks INFFs, that bring together the different financing streams and thus allow to plan their use strategically and align with the SDGs. 

Four years ago, the European Union launched Global Gateway, a strategy to mobilise sustainable investments for global resilience and shared prosperity. It was designed as a partnership model — one that aligns with the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, as emphasised by the Deputy Secretary-General during the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels last week.

Through Global Gateway, we have already mobilised over EUR 306 billion (surpassing our original goal ahead of schedule). These funds are building the foundations of a new global economy: clean energy, digital connectivity, resilient supply chains, sustainable food systems, and universal health security.

Each investment is designed to strengthen local capacity. The Lobito Corridor, for example, links mineral-rich regions in Africa to the Atlantic coast — but more importantly, it creates jobs, supports local industries, and connects economies to each other. This is systems finance in action — combining infrastructure, education, and innovation into one coherent framework for shared prosperity.

Last week, the EU set up the Global Gateway Investment Hub — a new mechanism that brings together governments, development banks, and private investors. It is designed to make cooperation more efficient, transparent, and scalable.

Excellencies,

The challenges we face — from climate change to digital inequality — require systemic solutions and systemic financing. The continued EU support to the INFF Facility underlines our commitment to country ownership and leadership, and our partnership approach. 

In this light, and taking into consideration UN80 reform efforts, to what extent can INFFs serve as a model for future international development cooperation frameworks?