After the agreement reached with the Council of the EU last November, the European Parliament approved the reform of the continental gas market, which has as its main objective to facilitate the diffusion of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, as well as reducing energy dependence on Russia and Belarus, in line with the objectives of the Green Deel and Fit for 55.
The MEPs approved two legislative acts: a Directive (425 votes in favour, 64 against and 100 abstentions, at this link the complete text) and a Regulation (447 votes in favour, 90 against and 54 abstentions; at this link the complete text ). This second measure, in particular, focuses – as explained in a note released by the Strasbourg assembly – on increasing investments in hydrogen infrastructure, in particular in coal-mining regions, promoting a transition towards sustainable energy sources such as biomethane and low carbon hydrogen.
“European steel and chemical industries, which are difficult to decarbonise, will be placed at the center of the development of a European hydrogen market,” said the rapporteur for the directive Jens Geier. “This will allow us to phase out fossil fuels from industry, ensure European competitiveness and preserve jobs in a sustainable economy. The rules on unbundling for hydrogen network operators will be aligned with existing best practices in the gas and electricity markets.”
“The new regulation will transform the current energy market into one based mainly on two sources: green electricity and green gas. This is a huge step towards achieving the EU’s ambitious climate goals and towards greater competitiveness in global markets” added Jerzy Buzek, rapporteur of the regulation. “We have introduced an option for EU countries to stop gas imports from Russia in the event of a security threat, a tool to gradually eliminate our dependence on a dangerous monopolist.”
Both texts will now have to be formally adopted by the Council before their publication in the Official Journal of the EU and their entry into force.
