EU Energy ministers and government representatives from the Pentalateral Forum, including German economy minister Peter Altmaier, have made a joint declaration highlighting the importance of green hydrogen in the decarbonisation of energy systems in Europe.
The statement following a video conference today called for a swift and coordinated ramp-up of supply and demand, as well as the creation of the necessary infrastructure.
It also called on the European Commission to work with the member states to develop concrete approaches and the necessary legislative proposals for a rapid upscaling of the hydrogen economy, the development of the infrastructure, and beneficial framework conditions in the future internal hydrogen market.
Ministers said that the decarbonisation of industry and transport cannot be achieved cost-effectively without hydrogen.
The Pentalateral Forum comprises Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland.
The ‘Penta’ states regularly work together in the forum to provide initiatives for the further development of the EU internal market, to respond to the challenges of the energy transition in a coordinated manner and to support EU policies on the path to climate neutrality.