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.  

This investment package builds on the €4.7 billion package announced at the EU-South Africa Summit in March, marking a new chapter in the EU-South Africa partnership, with Team Europe – the EU, its Member States, and development finance institutions – mobilising increased investment through Global Gateway. 

Overall, the package covers several strategic areas:  

1. Advancing the Just Energy Transition  
€8.7 billion to contribute to South Africa’s energy and industrial transformation through:

• Green hydrogen: Driving investments in strategic projects and supporting institutions to deliver structural policy and regulatory reforms.
• Critical raw materials: Establishing an investment facility for local mineral processing projects, alongside technical assistance to strengthen policy dialogue, regulatory cooperation, sustainability standards, and Research & Development.
• Renewable energy and efficiency: Expanding solar, wind and energy efficiency projects to diversify South Africa’s energy mix and enhance its energy security.
• Other support to the Just Energy Transition (JET): Providing flexible funding for emerging priorities across the JET pillars.

2. Ensuring a Just transition  
€1.2 billion to ensure that the transition is fair and inclusive so that no one is left behind, by supporting:

• Re-skilling and new employment opportunities linked to the JET.
• Research, innovation, and climate adaptation projects, including water security.
• Greening municipal service delivery to ensure sustainable urban and rural development.
• Climate-smart agriculture to improve resilience and productivity.

3. Connectivity, green logistics and infrastructure  
€1.3 billion iinvestments in modern, sustainable infrastructure to enhance connectivity and innovation, including:

• transport, renewable-powered logistics and stable electricity supply, including strategic corridors and public transport systems.
• efficient transport networks and digital infrastructure

4. Building South Africa’s vaccine production  
€292 million to bolster local manufacturing of vaccines (MAV+), including:

• reinforcing the regulatory ecosystem, supporting market shaping and investing in innovative biotechnology research.
• strengthening pharmaceutical infrastructure, provide training and capacity building, and support pharmaceutical roll-out to enhance public health resilience.  

This Team Europe Investment Package is already delivering concrete results. 

• New commitment to Coega Green Ammonia Project. Local production will meet increasing global and domestic demand in the agriculture, chemical or mining sectors. It will also support South Africa’s ambition to become a global shipping hub as green ammonia becomes a choice clean maritime fuel.
• New commitment to strengthen local biomanufacturing capabilities to produce vaccines and other pharmaceuticals in South Africa for the African continent.  

These concrete projects will implement the Investment Package in a sustainable manner, creating local beneficiation and adding value to the local economy. 

Source: EU Commission