EIC, EFCA and UNIFE meet MEP Niels Geuking to discuss EU Development Policy and Global Europe instrument
On 10 September 2026, EIC teamed up with EFCA - European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations and UNIFE - The European Rail Supply Industry Association to meet with MEP Niels Geuking who sits for the Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) on the Committees on Development (DEVE) and on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) in Brussels. The three federations explained to MEP Geuking that the proposed new Global Europe instrument presents an excellent opportunity to use EU external assistance funds more strategically and with a greater focus on EU geopolitical and economic interests.
The Regulation must ensure that EU development and neighbourhood funding benefits EU companies and technologies in the first place and not our systemic rivals and EIC, EFCA and UNIFE highlighted the following points:
Better eligibility rules under indirect management of EU external assistance funding
Effective safeguards against unfair competition, foreign subsidies and abnormally low tenders
Strategic procurement based on quality, sustainability, resilience and lifecycle value - applying the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) and the Best Price-Quality Ratio (BPQR)
An EU Preference mechanism for Global Gateway-funded infrastructure projects
Greater involvement of the European private sector from the earliest stages of project preparation.
The current discussion around a €320 million EU-funded contract in Senegal for the supply of natural gas buses reveals a great divide within the EU Parliament. Whereas the centre-left groups (The Left, Greens/EFA, S&D and Renew) ‘don’t care’ (see article on Euractiv) about EU funds flowing to Chinese state-owned enterprises, the centre-right groups (EPP, ECR, ESN and PfE) are in favour of changing current rules to establish a level playing field for EU companies also under the indirect management mode.
EIC, EFCA and UNIFE call upon all Members of the DEVE and AFET (Foreign Affairs) Committees to ensure that the above-mentioned mechanisms can be effectively applied under both direct and indirect management of the Global Europe Regulation in order to establish a level playing field between state-owned or subsidised third country and EU companies.
EIC-EFCA-UNFE published a joint statement with precise recommendations, which you can read here or download below.
Support this message and like our article on LinkedIn.