Marrakech, 2 October 2025. The World Power-to-X Summit brought together global leaders in hydrogen and e-fuels, but one session stood out for its focus on the Southern Mediterranean: the side event hosted by the EU-funded MED-GEM Network. Under the title “Advancing Green Hydrogen Readiness in the Southern Mediterranean”, the event gathered high level regulators, financiers, industry pioneers, and institutional partners shared perspectives on how to turn hydrogen ambition into reality.

A Strong Institutional Opening

With Dr Mustapha Taoumi, as Master of Ceremony, the session began with an impressive line-up of institutional leaders, setting the strategic context for the discussion.

• Florian Ermacora (European Commission, DG MENA) stressed Europe’s commitment to certification, financing, and cooperation with Southern Mediterranean countries to enable credible hydrogen trade.
• Ahmed Bouzid (Moroccan Ministry of Energy Transition) highlighted Morocco’s determination to combine export competitiveness with local socio-economic integration.
• Omnia Aboukorah-Voigt (GIZ Morocco) spoke about the importance of technical assistance and skills training.
• Yahya Zniber (GH2 Cluster) underlined the role of industry clusters in aligning developers and regulators.
• Frank Wouters (MED-GEM Network) summed up the mission of MED-GEM:

“Our role is to connect governments, industry, and institutions to make green hydrogen markets credible, inclusive, and export-ready under the EU–Morocco Green Partnership.”

Financing the Transition

In the first keynote, representatives from the European Investment Bank (EIB): Adrien de Bassompierre and Mohammed Aymen Moumen shared the Bank’s view on financing hydrogen.

“Financing hydrogen is about bridging risk and opportunity: from pilot projects to scalable investments that deliver both export competitiveness and socio-economic impact.”

Their message was clear: the region will need both innovative de-risking tools and a strong pipeline of credible projects to unlock financing at scale.

Panel Discussion: Certification and Export Readiness

The heart of the side event was a high-level panel moderated by Frank Wouters. Experts from the EU Delegation to Morocco, MEDREG, Dii Desert Energy, Hinicio, and the PtX Hub offered diverse perspectives, but their conclusions converged around three critical themes: stability, speed, and cooperation.

• Patrick Maio (Hinicio) warned:

“Do not change the rules mid-way. Investors and developers need stability to protect their business plans and ensure projects move from design to reality.”

• Cornelius Matthes (Dii Desert Energy) emphasised urgency:

“Speed is the new currency. We cannot afford to wait years for harmonisation. Certification processes must be pragmatic, streamlined, and fast.”

• Agustin Alonso (MEDREG) highlighted the regulator’s role:

“MEDREG brings a dual advantage: our geographic representation across Europe and the Southern Mediterranean, and our regulatory experience from electricity and gas markets.”

• Gaëtan Ducroux (EU Delegation to Morocco) reframed certification as an enabler:

“Certification should not be a barrier but a bridge, ensuring trust, enabling trade, and providing developers the confidence to move ahead.”

• Antonio Rodriguez Fernandez (PtX Hub & MED-GEM Help Desk) called for alignment and support:

“Public–private partnerships and technical assistance are key to ensure the whole ecosystem - from regulators to developers - is ready for export readiness.

Closing: A Call for Stability and Action

Wrapping up the debate, Frank Wouters (MED-GEM Network) distilled the collective message:

“Certification in the Southern Mediterranean will only succeed if frameworks remain predictable, regulators align with EU standards, and industry has the confidence to invest at scale.”

Looking Ahead

The MED-GEM side event left participants with a clear vision: the Southern Mediterranean can become a trusted partner in the green hydrogen transition, but only if regulatory stability, financing, and industrial integration go hand-in-hand.

By aligning with the EU–Morocco Partenariat Vert and working across borders, MED-GEM and its partners are laying the groundwork for export-ready hydrogen that not only serves European markets but also delivers jobs, skills, and economic opportunities locally.

👉 The takeaway?

Credible certification, fast-track implementation, and regional cooperation are no longer optional: they are the keys to turning hydrogen from ambition into bankable reality.

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