Working Better Together in a Team Europe Approach

Strategic communication is a key element of implementing TEIs and is essential to making an impact in partner countries. TEIs should work on joint narratives and strategic messages, aligning all the relevant actors following Team Europe approach.

If you have Global Gateway flagship projects⁸⁹ in your country or region, actors following a Team Europe approach should maximize on their (joint) communication around these projects and TEIs they belong to⁹⁰, (see Point 1.4.1.3.II on strategic communication and visibility).

In addition to Global Gateway flagship projects, TEI participants groups may sometimes wish to align communication efforts around a specific TEI. For TEIs that fall outside the scope of Global Gateway, actors following a Team Europe approach should continue to prominently use the #TeamEurope hashtag, the EU emblem and the national flag or implementing agency logo as relevant – but neither the Global Gateway nor the old Team Europe approach visual identity. In the Western Balkans and the Neighbourhood, the #EIP label should also be used whenever relevant.

Image

The TEI in Cabo Verde focuses on the Green Deal and sustainable growth and jobs, with an emphasis on boosting strategic investments via blending and guarantees; supporting skills development; and strengthening dialogue, cooperation and support with regard to the investment and business climate. Given the third priority, fostering an informed public-public dialogue process is central to the TEI’s success, and requires strong communication and visibility efforts. Communication efforts have had to be strong, have employed explanatory videos and extensive media coverage and have served as a focused communication tool that targets one of the Cabo Verdean islands and spotlights the collaboration between Member States to advance the TEI’s objectives.

Table 3 below contains a (non-exhaustive) list of activities undertaken to date by EU Delegations and actors following a Team Europe approach at partner country level to enhance strategic communication and the visibility of the EU and the Team Europe approach. In several countries, Team Europe approach groups decided to have joint TEI project launches (see Annex 4.3 for tips on how to conduct TEI launches) and to organise joint Heads of Missions-level TEI project visits, accompanied by the media, to make TEI results more visible. Other countries (e.g. Zimbabwe) decided that the starting point would be to speak a common language when communicating about TEIs (e.g. to agree on harmonised definitions for certain key terminology, such as ‘climate-smart agriculture’) and to agree to mention the TEI and its objectives when communicating on specific components (e.g. projects) that fall under the TEI in speeches, social media, etc., as agreed by the Team Europe approach group.

Table 3: List of activities (non-exhaustive) by EUDs and actors following a Team Europe approach actors at partner country level to enhance strategic communication and the visibility of the EU and the Team Europe approach.

Image

In Ecuador, the TEI was launched at a high-profile event with EU ambassadors, ministers and development partners. The launch provided an opportunity to raise awareness of the Global Gateway strategy and how the TEI Green Deal for Ecuador will help catalyse financing for one of Ecuador’s top priorities. Joint messaging by EU ambassadors emphasised the multiplier effect that each euro of investment would have. The TEI includes a loan of EUR 100 million from the EIB and a loan of EUR 80 million from AFD. A further loan from the EIB is under consideration and an EFSD+ guarantee of AFD provides the potential for financing at scale and for catalysing additional private capital.

89 The annually updated list can be found online – 2023 list is accessible at: https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/publications/global-gateway-2023-flagship-projects-infographics_en
90 In the Western Balkans and the Neighbourhood, the contribution of the Economic and Investment Plan flagship priority projects to Global Gateway should be part of this communication.