A Conversation with Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships

As the European Commission gears up for its next phase of leadership, Mikaela Gavas sat down with Jutta Urpilainen, the outgoing European Commissioner for International Partnerships, to reflect on her five years in office. The Commissioner shared insights into the challenges she faced, the accomplishments she’s proud of, and the future of international cooperation under the EU’s leadership. The conversation covered everything from the evolving global development landscape to the reality of the EU’s relationship with Africa and the need for a more equal partnership. The Commissioner offered her thoughts on the EU’s Global Gateway and what more needs to be done to prioritize investment in human capital, and gave her view on the EU’s budgetary challenges and what’s next for development spending.