Draghi Report Confirms Hydrogen’s Role in European Competitiveness

The final text of The Future of European Competitiveness report was officially presented today by former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

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The highly anticipated report was shaped by extensive consultations across various societal sectors. It identifies major barriers to European competitiveness and proposes actionable steps to address obstacles in innovation, high energy costs, funding gaps, regulatory streamlining, and the pressing need for digitalization and defense capabilities.

Hydrogen Europe CEO Jorgo Chatzimarkakis acknowledged Draghi’s contributions, stating, "This report is exactly what Europe needs today: a strategic and concrete approach to address climate change, technological disruption, energy costs, and Europe’s economic resilience." The report underscores the importance of an EU Clean Industrial Deal to support decarbonization while maintaining industrial competitiveness. "Decarbonisation can be a catalyst for Europe's industrial revival," Chatzimarkakis emphasized, with hydrogen technologies playing a pivotal role in this transformation.

Hydrogen’s Transformative Role

Hydrogen is highlighted in the report as a critical technology for driving European competitiveness. With Europe expected to undergo structural changes in the next decade, the hydrogen sector should build on existing frameworks like the Hydrogen Bank and Hydrogen Valleys, while introducing new approaches to legislation, governance, and funding to meet ambitious goals.

Daniel Fraile, Chief Policy Officer at Hydrogen Europe, remarked, "We are pleased that the report brings a technology-neutral approach to rebuilding EU competitiveness, recognizing hydrogen’s role in decarbonization alongside other solutions." Hydrogen Europe calls for collective investment and efforts at all levels of the EU to ensure that clean hydrogen technologies can support the EU’s industrial core.

About Hydrogen Europe

Hydrogen Europe advocates for hydrogen as a key player in the EU's energy, industry, and competitiveness policies. As the EU moves forward in its next political cycle, Hydrogen Europe is pushing for ambitious goals to establish hydrogen as a cornerstone of net-zero strategies in cooperation with other sectors.