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18 July 2024(image copyright: European Parliament)
Hydrogen Europe congratulates Ursula von der Leyen on her re-election as President of the European Commission.
We are happy to see that many points that we recently communicated to her are being integrated in the political guidelines for the next Commission.
It is encouraging to see that the core of the next mandate revolves around high climate ambitions with a clear framework for EU net zero industrial investments that will help derisking business decisions needed to deliver climate neutrality by 2050.
Climate
The new Commission will put forward new 2040 climate targets, a Clean Industrial Deal, the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act and will focus on prioritising and scaling up investment in clean energy infrastructure and technologies. This will be fundamental for the development and deployment of European hydrogen technology, infrastructure and storage capacity to provide the necessary flexibility to our renewables and help decarbonise energy and industrial sectors that are still reliant on fossil fuels.
Competitiveness
It is encouraging to see the commitment to an investment Commission with a focus on competitiveness as well as the proposed risk absorbing measures such as the EU Competitiveness Fund in the next Multiannual financial framework (MFF). The willingness to make Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) simpler and faster to get financing off the ground are encouraging signals for clean technologies such as hydrogen. Additionally, preference will also be given to European products in public procurement for certain strategic sectors can help boost such domestic technologies.
International dimension
Clean trade and investment partnerships will be crucial to keep the EU a leader in international negotiations. To this end, putting hydrogen at the centre of the EU climate diplomacy and the Global Gateway investments will help in delivering the global climate and energy vision ahead of COP30.
Last but not least, it is promising that each Commissioner will be tasked with focusing on reducing administrative burdens and simplifying implementation, include accelerating permitting and cutting out red tape that can unleash the full potential of European clean technologies.
The hydrogen sector stands ready to work with the next Commission to turn the plan for Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness into reality.
