January marked the start of a crucial year for the EU at a critical moment for the hydrogen and fuel cell industry in Europe. Most of the  massive economic recovery plans that are being announced at EU and national level all link financial support are linked to sustainable development. The EHA Board on Janaury  27 therefore discussed  a set of key messages that will be presented to EU and national decision makers to emphasize the key role of hydrogen as a clean energy vector to facilitate EU’s energy and tranport policy goals and stimulate economic recovery. In many European countries constructive efforts are underway (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Spain,  France, Italy) to establish national strategic alliances  mirroring the EU Joint Undertaking for fuel cells and hydrogen to support the uptake of the first applications. Many regions and large municipalities are important catalysts in this process. The EHA is committed to expand its support to these initiaitves in 2009. On March 4, 2009 in Brussels the EHA organizes a National Strategy Round Table and National Association Workshop at the EU project Roads2HyCom seminar on Regional development . For more information see under EHA in Action.