Great news, last night in Brussels the European Parliament and the European Council reached an agreement on the Gas Market Directive. It will make Europe fit for hydrogen and paves the way towards climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest.

Jens Geier, SD MEP and the EP’s committee on industry, research and energy rapporteur on the Gas Market Directive, said: 

“With this agreement, the European Parliament secured that sectors hard to decarbonise, such as the steel and chemical industries, will be placed at the centre of the development of a European hydrogen market. This will enable the phase-out of fossil fuels in industry and secure European competitiveness. At the same time, the ramp-up of the hydrogen market will create new jobs in the EU.

“Investment bottlenecks in the Commission’s proposal that would have slowed down the ramp-up of hydrogen have been removed. Instead, unbundling rules for hydrogen network operators will correspond to best practices in the gas and electricity market. 

“For the first time, there will be a new planning methodology for distribution grids in order to meet the challenges posed by the reduction of gas consumption at an early stage. The European Parliament was able to strengthen the integration of the hydrogen and electricity sectors in the distribution grid planning, thereby securing energy and a cost-efficient transition of our energy supply.”

 Maria Grapini, SD MEP and the EP’s committee on internal market and consumer protection rapporteur on the Gas Market Directive, said: 

“It is a great success for the European Parliament that vulnerable groups and people affected by energy poverty will be better protected from having their gas supply cut off in future, as now member states are obligated to take measures to prevent disconnection. In addition, all consumers will receive more rights and support when switching from a gas fossil fuel supply to other alternatives.  

“We are also satisfied we managed to impose amendments that help vulnerable consumers and protect consumers from disconnections during legal disputes with the suppliers.”