As the pavements of Brussels are once again filled with the hustle and bustle of employees returning after the summer holidays, the EU Institutions too are back at full speed paving the way for high-performing, sustainable and efficiently interconnected trans-European networks in the fields of transport, energy and digital services. This will only be achieved with the support of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) a 50 billon growth package under the Multi Annual Financial Framework (2014-2020). 

The EHA together with HyER has been meeting with EU Parliament members to find a way to ensure that hydrogen and recharging infrastructure is included in the CEF. Adina Ioana Valean MEP, rapporteur on Connecting Europe Facility referred to the need to  simplify programs, and implement project bonds to leverage funds.  She included an extra paragraph on synergies between transport and energy projects that could support H2 infrastructure needs

During a high level CEF conference on Tuesday (2 October) EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso vigorously defended the CEF plan during negotiations as he said, for him, it is one of the most prominent features for growth in the proposed MFF 2014-2020. The conference concluded with overall strong support by business leaders and policy-makers for an ambitious Connecting Europe Facility, able to trigger significant additional investment for Europe’s strategic infrastructure.

In other transport policy news, the European Commission published a communication on Developing a European transport technology strategy to coordinate and focus European research and innovation in transport. The aim is to speed up the deployment of new transport means and solutions to achieve a competitive and affordable European transport system. outlines ten priority areas in transport and proposes specific actions to accelerate the deployment of smart green and integrated transport.

While the need for infrastructure for alternative fuels is still being debated in the EU Institutions, EHA members Air Liquide, Air Products and ITM Power have already moved into the fast lane with the opening of hydrogen filling stations in the cities Dusselfdorf, Millbrook and Nottingham respectively.

The H2 Moves Road tour is well under way with the tour with the tour currently at its fourth stop in Cardiff. A stop at the Klimamobility event in Bolzao proved very successful, giving 300 test drives in the the challenging mountainous environment in three days which is believed to be a record in any of the similar test drive events so far in Europe!

On 16 October 2012, HyER will hold a public Conference at the Palais des Académies, in Brussels. Organised within the framework of its General Assembly (16-17 October), the event aims to inform  stakeholders on the increasing impact of the HyER projects on EU policy and explore how HyER can best serve the EU regions’ objectives in the field of hydrogen, fuel cells and electro-mobility through an EU support framework. HyER’s newest members will present their activities and future collaborative plans on clean urban mobility. European Commission’s Director-General for Transport Matthias Ruete, Niedersachsen’s Secretary of State of the Ministry of Environment Ulla Ihnen and Solvay’s President Jean-Marie Solvay are some of the confirmed speakers.