EIB invests €20 million in Amethis Europe Expansion Fund to support European SMEs growing in Africa
The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a €20 million investment in the Amethis Europe Expansion Fund, a new private equity vehicle designed to support European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expanding their business in Africa, as well as in Europe and the Middle East. The initiative aims to strengthen economic ties between Europe and Africa, foster private sector development and promote sustainable and inclusive growth.
EIB signs a Guarantee Agreement with MedAccess to boost access to essential medical supplies in Africa
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and MedAccess announced today the signing of an innovative Guarantee Agreement to help improve access to critical health products in Africa. The agreement is one of the first operations under the Human Development Accelerator (HDX)*, a joint programme between the European Commission (EC), the EIB and the Gates Foundation, to accelerate investment opportunities that enable greater access to and affordability of health products in low- and middle-income countries. It fully aligns with the European Union’s Global Gateway Strategy.
Lesotho Powers Forward with Renewable Energy to Drive Inclusive Energy Access
The Renewable Lesotho Programme will celebrate some concrete steps towards clean energy transition on Thursday, 6 November 2025, with a high-level event at Itekeng Combined School in Pitseng, Thaba-Tseka. The school is one of the eight facilities electrified during the initial year of implementation of the Access to Affordable Renewable Energy (AARE), implemented by UNDP with EU funding as part of the Renewable Lesotho Programme, as well as contributions from the Government of Ireland and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Advancing Global Gateway: Vista Group and EIB sign € 30 million in loans to support SMEs and agricultural value chains in Guinea and Sierra Leone
The European Investment Bank (EIB), through its development branch EIB Global, and Vista Group have signed two financing agreements of respectively € 20 million with Vista Gui and € 10 million with Vista Bank (SL) to strengthen access to finance for SMEs and mid-caps in Guinea and Sierra Leone. This important initiative is enabled by the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) which serves to mobilise public and private financing under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
Egypt becomes second African country to join Horizon Europe
Today, Egypt has officially joined Horizon Europe, becoming the second African country associated to the EU's multibillion-euro research and innovation (R&I) programme. This grants Egyptian researchers, universities, innovators and entities access to all parts of the programme on similar terms to those of EU Member States. It enables them to lead projects, contribute to cutting-edge research, and support national research reforms and institutional capacity-building.
EU-Egypt summit, 22 October 2025
Main results
The President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, representing the EU, met with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah El-Sisi at the first ever EU-Egypt summit.
EU and Mauritania advance partnership through Global Gateway
President Ursula von der Leyen met with President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania during the 2025 Global Gateway Forum. The meeting reaffirmed the European Union’s strong partnership with Mauritania. The partnership will be further reinforced with an investment package of €269 million covering energy, transport, and budget support, reflecting the EU’s commitment to sustainable development, advancing the green transition, strengthening the health sector, and supporting migration management in Mauritania.
EU and Cabo Verde strengthen strategic autonomy and green transitions at the Global Gateway Forum
President Ursula von der Leyen met with Prime Minister José Ulisses Correia e Silva of Cabo Verde during the 2025 Global Gateway Forum. The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between the EU and Cabo Verde on renewable energy, maritime infrastructure, and digital transformation under EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
Global Gateway Forum: Team Europe and South Africa mobilise an investment package for inclusive prosperity, worth nearly €12 billion
Today at the Global Gateway Forum, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, together with South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, unveiled a Team Europe investment package, worth nearly €12 billion. With this package, Team Europe is doubling down on its ambition to work with South Africa in order to become global leaders in the just energy transition, sustainable infrastructure, digital connectivity and pharmaceutical value chain. It reflects a shared commitment to building a healthier, more sustainable, prosperous and inclusive South Africa – boosting competitiveness, creating jobs, and ensuring no one is left behind in the transition to a green economy.
President von der Leyen announces €618 million package to scale up renewables in Africa at Global Gateway Forum
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced today a €618 million Team Europe package to accelerate Africa's clean energy transition. This announcement, unveiled during the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, is an important milestone in the “Scaling Up Renewables in Africa” campaign, co-hosted with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and coordinated with the international advocacy organisation Global Citizen.