Team Europe joins Thailand and international partners to strengthen flood resilience around Bangkok

The Chao Phraya Basin is Thailand's economic and agricultural heartland around Bangkok. The wider Bangkok area is prone to flooding. In 2011, floods caused an estimated EUR 41,4 billion in economic losses. The Bangkok area floods of recent weeks, which affected millions of people in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces, have again shown how exposed the basin is. The Master Plan is the Royal Thai Government's 20-year framework for addressing these risks in the Lower East Chao Phraya Basin. It will upgrade canals and diversion channels, modernise water management through digital forecasting and decision-support systems, and strengthen community resilience and disaster preparedness.

Team Europe brings together European financing and expertise in support of this plan. The EU will contribute with grant funding under its Global Gateway strategy. The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group is willing to support digital flood management solutions, flood forecasting and early warning and decision-support systems. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) focuses on community-based disaster risk management and local early warning, so that investments in infrastructure positively impact the households and communities at risk.

Team Europe showcased its support during a high-level event in Bangkok hosted by the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, alongside the European Union, AFD Group, GIZ, Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development on 14 October 2026.

In his remarks, H.E. Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, said: “First of all, let me express my solidarity with people affected by the recent floods. Events like this are a reminder that climate change and extreme weather have very real consequences for people, communities, farmers, businesses and public services. Through Global Gateway and Team Europe, the EU is bringing together European financing, expertise and technology to support Thailand in strengthening water management, reducing flood risks and building resilience for the long term”.

H.E. Eleonore Caroit, Minister Delegate for Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Nationals Abroad, expressed her solidarity with the people affected by the recent floods and presented the G7’s work to strengthen resilience to natural shocks. She stressed the contribution of European funds, companies and expertise to the project and commended the work of the Royal Irrigation Department teams.

Speaking on the high-level panel on “Community and Disaster Resilience”, Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, Managing Director of GIZ, underlined that the recent floods showed communities are the first responders when the water rises. She stressed that early warnings must reach every household in time and in a form people can act on. As part of Team Europe and alongside AFD, GIZ is preparing, together with the European Union, to support communities in the Lower East Chao Phraya Basin. Christophe Lecourtier, Director-General of AFD, presented the “Role of Team Europe in Action”.

About Team Europe and Global Gateway: The Global Gateway is the EU’s strategy to invest in sustainable infrastructure and trusted connections that work for people and the planet. It focuses on boosting smart, clean and secure links in areas like digital, energy and transport, while also strengthening health, education and research systems. It addresses some of the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to improving health systems, and boosting competitiveness and security of supply chains. The Global Gateway is also the EU’s contribution towards narrowing the global investment gap. Global Gateway is implemented in a Team Europe approach. Team Europe brings together the European Union, its Member States and their development agencies and financial institutions to deliver joint, visible and effective cooperation with partner countries. Through the Global Gateway, the EU is strengthening connections between Europe and partner countries, including by strengthening climate resilience. Since 2021, Team Europe has mobilised over €306 billion for high-quality, sustainable projects.

About AFD Group: AFD Group finances and drives the transition to a fairer, safer and more resilient world, working with its partners to support communities all over the world. Drawing on the complementary strengths of its entities – Agence Française de Développement for public financing, Proparco for responsible private investment, and Expertise France for technical expertise – the Group is ideally positioned to meet all sustainable development challenges. Working in over 160 countries, including France’s Overseas Territories and Departments, the Group adapts its operations to the realities on the ground, actively supporting local initiatives. With over 4,000 projects, whose objectives are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), AFD Group works on behalf of the French people, together with all stakeholders committed to economic development and the preservation of common goods: climate, biodiversity, peace, gender equality and global health. Working by your side, toward a world in common.

About GIZ: The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a service provider with worldwide operations in the fields of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work. Together with its partners, GIZ develops effective solutions that offer people better prospects and sustainably improve their living conditions. GIZ is a public-benefit federal enterprise and supports the German Government and a host of public and private sector clients in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.