"In both the Global North and South, we are all developing countries"

The old model—where agencies from a Global North funded development projects in a Global South—is fading away. In both the North and the South, we are all developing countries now. We must all reinvent ourselves to face climate change, the energy transition, security challenges, and economic and social inequalities. Added to these global challenges is a crisis of trust in international cooperation itself, which directly impacts our agencies.

We need to better highlight the vital link between the development of other countries and our own—between European reindustrialization and African industrialization, for instance. Through the Global Gateway strategy, the European Union stands apart from other major global players. It pairs the defense of its economic development with values of solidarity and a social component that offers genuine added value.

This approach safeguards European interests over the long term. When we secure ports in Guayaquil (Ecuador) or across Africa, we are driving the economic development of beneficiary nations, but we are also fighting drug trafficking at the source before those shipments ever reach European ports. Similarly, the MAV+ TESS project—supported by Expertise France, Enabel, and GIZ (the German cooperation agency)—shares European expertise in vaccine design and manufacturing with African nations. This makes the entire world more resilient ahead of the next pandemic

Enabel, Expertise France, and other cooperation agencies must reinvent themselves, but they cannot do it isolated in their own corners. The PN, which used to be a simple knowledge-sharing network, is transforming into a strategic forum. Inside it, we redefine our mandates, unite, design joint programs, and take collective stances regarding the European Commission’s policy directions.

This shift represents an exciting opportunity to examine our value proposition and map out our specific niches of expertise, linking them to the strengths of each country’s private sector. Belgium, for example, holds historical expertise in developing strategic logistical corridors dating back to the 16th century with the Port of Antwerp. When it comes to rail networks, France brings highly specialized expertise to the table. On vaccines, both of our countries offer clear added value.

It is a way to respond to them... but also to challenge them! Increasing European defense budgets to 5% of GDP is framed as an absolute necessity, while the long-standing OECD standard of allocating 0.7% of GNI to Official Development Assistance (ODA) seems to have been cast aside.

Politics follows public opinion; cooperation must therefore win back popular support. Within the PN, we are working on new narratives around development to remind people that international cooperation is one of our most effective tools for conflict prevention. Compared to the billions of dollars spent waging wars, international solidarity proves to be a highly sensible investment.

So yes, let us specialize, let us cooperate, and let us pool our resources. That is precisely what we are doing, particularly alongside Expertise France, on strategic corridors, port security, and MAV+ TESS, among other initiatives. In parallel, we are growing our strategic influence to defend a shared, bold vision of international cooperation. Expertise France and Enabel share the exact same vision for the future.

Interview conducted in March 2026