PubAffairs Bruxelles organised the discussion with representatives of the European Commission, European Parliament, industry and consulting. The debate assessed the next steps for the EU hydrogen economy following the 2024 European elections.
Topics included:
- implementation of the EU hydrogen regulatory framework;
- competitiveness of European hydrogen technologies;
- renewable and low-carbon hydrogen criteria;
- financing and the European Hydrogen Bank;
- cross-border transport and refuelling infrastructure;
- domestic production and hydrogen imports;
- industrial demand and viable applications.
Key findings
The discussion highlighted a substantial gap between project announcements and implementation. At the time, only around 5% of projects developed through the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance had reached a final investment decision.
Speakers identified several priorities:
- focus on implementing and refining existing legislation;
- provide predictable price and demand signals for investors;
- support operating costs during early market development;
- avoid fragmented national certification and support systems;
- develop pipelines, ports and other shared infrastructure;
- concentrate initial infrastructure around industrial clusters and credible demand;
- retain technological flexibility while renewable hydrogen production expanded.
The debate also concluded that ambitious targets alone did not create investment. Projects needed credible buyers, realistic costs and coordinated infrastructure to become bankable.
Practical value
For regional authorities and project developers, the discussion reinforced the importance of building hydrogen strategies around genuine demand. Regional clusters could help connect producers, infrastructure and industrial users while reducing the risks of isolated investments.
Available materials
PubAffairs Bruxelles published detailed event highlights, including the speakers’ arguments, policy references and questions raised during the discussion.