Brussels, 05 September 2023
Global Gateway: launch of the Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap for Kenya *
During the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi today, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of Kenya Ruto launched the Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap for Kenya, with the support of Global Gateway, Europe's investment strategy for the world.
The Roadmap, developed with EU experts, sets out Kenya's ambitions to develop its green hydrogen industry from this year to 2032 and beyond. It focuses on domestic market development and growth, exports, and includes specific objectives related to emission reduction, job creation, and direct investments.
Under Global Gateway, the EU will commit almost €12 million in grants to leverage public and private investments in the Kenyan green hydrogen industry. Overall, Global Gateway invests €3.4 billion in climate and nature in Kenya– from developing its renewable energy industry to building sustainable agricultural value chains to climate resilience and protecting the environment.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Kenya is a key ally in the fight against climate change, as shown by the initiative to host the Africa Climate Summit on the road to COP28. Kenya's ambitious target of 100% clean energy by 2030 is an inspiration for other countries. The Roadmap on Green hydrogen will support Kenya towards that goal. It will help cut emissions, support a strategic industry for the country's future and boost its export capacity towards partners like the EU. It's already a success story, powered by Global Gateway.”
President of the Republic of Kenya, William Ruto, said: “The Green Hydrogen strategy prioritizes economic expansion, generation of job opportunities, and the promotion of environmental stewardship and charts a course for Kenya to harness the potential of green hydrogen as a key driver of energy transition. Green hydrogen economy will enhance food security including expansion of green production of Kenyan tea, coffee, horticulture, floriculture and grains. It will also facilitate decarbonization of our industries and indeed the economy. Kenya thanks all its partners including European Union, Germany and EIB for continued partnership and collaboration and will enhance cooperation with all African countries.”
Background
The Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap
Through its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), Kenya's ambition is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a third by 2030. Kenya was a first mover in green energy transition and has made significant advancements, with over 90% of its electricity derived from renewable resources.
The EU and Kenya's partnership focuses on accelerating investments in clean energy infrastructure to make Kenya's commitment to achieve a 100% renewable electricity system by 2030 come true.
This Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap for Kenya has been developed under the EU Global Technical Assistance Facility for Sustainable Energy and the work has been steered and managed by the Ministry of Energy and key Kenyan stakeholders.
Thanks to Kenya's strong innovation culture, stable business environment and commitment to sustainable development, many companies are already pursuing green hydrogen projects in Kenya. This Roadmap will give investors the certainty they need and set clear targets for the development of this industry.
By substituting hydrogen commodity imports like fertiliser or methanol with domestically produced green alternatives, Kenya will be able foster the emergence of new industrial processes, mitigate supply risks, and reduce the uncertainties linked to market price volatility.
Green hydrogen therefore presents a promising pathway to unlock opportunities for sustainable manufacturing and drive industrialization, while contributing to a higher food security in the country and the region.
Global Gateway climate investments in Africa and Kenya
Team Europe is the world's biggest climate finance contributor providing at least a third of the world's public climate finance. In 2021 alone, the EU and its Member States contributed more than €23 billion to international public climate finance. The €150 billion Global Gateway EU-Africa Investment Package aims to support Africa for a strong, inclusive, green and digital recovery and transformation.
In Kenya, Global Gateway invests in the green economy, the digital economy and green mobility. For example, the EU is supporting the development and operationalisation of the Nairobi Clean Bus Rapid Transit Line 3 (BRT 3) as part of the strategic Northern Corridor boosting trade, jobs and prosperity in Kenya and the region. To this end, Team Europe and Kenya are investing up to €350 million. This operation will build the first dedicated electric bus line in East Africa.
*Updated on 05/09/2023 at 11:30
Quote(s)
Kenya is a key ally in the fight against climate change, as shown by the initiative to host the Africa Climate Summit on the road to COP28. Kenya’s ambitious target of 100% clean energy by 2030 is an inspiration for other countries. The Roadmap on Green hydrogen will support Kenya towards that goal. It will help cut emissions, support a strategic industry for the country’s future and boost its export capacity towards partners like the EU. It’s already a success story, powered by Global Gateway.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
The Green Hydrogen strategy prioritizes economic expansion, generation of job opportunities, and the promotion of environmental stewardship and charts a course for Kenya to harness the potential of green hydrogen as a key driver of energy transition. Green hydrogen economy will enhance food security including expansion of green production of Kenyan tea, coffee, horticulture, floriculture and grains. It will also facilitate decarbonization of our industries and indeed the economy. Kenya thanks all its partners including European Union, Germany and EIB for continued partnership and collaboration and will enhance cooperation with all African countries.
William Ruto, President of Kenya
Green hydrogen is the energy of the future. Africa has great potential to become the leading continent in the development of this green energy source. Our support to Kenya’s green transition is part of Global Gateway, a positive and sustainable investment strategy, which will mobilise €150 billion for Africa. By working together as partners, Africa and the EU will be able to make a real change and bring direct benefits to the citizens.
Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships
The Hydrogen Roadmap is an important step towards building a green and sustainable hydrogen sector in Kenya. Germany wants to continue to support Kenya along this innovative road. Green hydrogen is a building block within our Climate and Development Partnership. We want to improve the framework conditions for the production of green hydrogen together and promote the production of fertiliser based on green hydrogen. Green fertiliser that is produced in Kenya can contribute to achieving sustainable food security for the people in Kenya. Germany will support this promising project with a loan of €60 million. As an additional highlight, we will soon open a Hydrogen Diplomacy Office in Nairobi to intensify our dialogue and collaboration.
Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr. Baerbel Kofler
The European Investment Bank welcomes Kenya’s adoption of the visionary green hydrogen roadmap that will further strengthen Kenya’s role as a world leader in clean energy. This represents a milestone for further developing renewable energy in Africa and enhance access to affordable energy essential for industrial growth, economic development and social progress. As a leading financier of renewable energy across Africa and around the world the European Investment Bank stands ready to strengthen technical and financial cooperation with Kenya, Team Europe and international partners to enable Kenya to fully harness its geothermal, solar and wind resources to deliver the full potential of green hydrogen.
Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, Thomas Östros
Commissioner Várhelyi visits Ankara to discuss cooperation with Türkiye
On 6-7 September 2023, the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi will Ankara to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation with Türkiye. This is the first official visit paid by an EU representative to the country following the Presidential elections in May this year.
The Commissioner will meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan; the Minister of Trade, Omer Bolat; the Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş; the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, and the Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacir.
The visit follows the conclusions of European Council last June, in which EU Leaders invited the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the European Commission to submit a report to the European Council on the state of play of EU-Türkiye relations, building on the instruments and options identified by the European Council, and with a view to proceeding in a strategic and forward-looking manner. This visit also comes before the publication of the next Enlargement report, expected in October.
Ahead of the visit, on 1 September the European Commission signed an association agreement with Türkiye that opens access to the €7.5 billion Digital Europe Programme, which will, once entered into force, enable businesses, public administrations and other eligible organisations in the country to take part in projects that deploy digital technologies. With this agreement the Digital Innovation Hubs in Türkiye will be set up too.
The European Commission has also proposed financial support of €400 million from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to provide assistance to Türkiye following the damages caused by the devastating earthquakes of February 2023.
During the visit, Commissioner Várhelyi will sign a €781 million contract providing EU funds for a social safety net for the most vulnerable refugees as part of the additional €3 billion funding pledged by the EU to continue supporting refugees in the country.
Pictures and videos of the mission will be available on EbS. More information on EU relations with Türkiye and assistance to the country is available on this factsheet.
(For more information: Ana Pisonero Hernandez – Tel.: +32 2 295 43 20; Gioia Franchellucci – Tel.: +32 2 296 80 41)
European Research Council awards over €628 million to 400 early-career researchers
The European Research Council (ERC) has announced today the winners of the latest round of its Starting Grants. The funding – worth €628 million – will help researchers who stand at the beginning of their careers to launch their own projects, form their teams and pursue their best scientific ideas.
The funding will enable researchers to, for example, study Venus' atmosphere to better understand habitability beyond Earth, analyse parasites that cause malaria, or investigate how algorithms are used at work to supervise employees. The funded research covers all domains of research from physics and engineering to life sciences and social sciences and humanities.
This new round of grants is estimated to create some 2,600 jobs for postdoctoral fellows, PhD students and other research staff.
The winners of this competition represent 44 nationalities and will carry out their projects at universities and research centres across 24 EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe. In this latest call, 2,696 applicants submitted proposals and 14.8% will receive funding. Female researchers won some 43% of grants, an increase from 39% in 2022.
More information is available in this ERC press release.
(For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 2 295 86 15; Marietta Grammenou — Tel.: + 32 2 298 35 83)
Commissioner Simson participates in the first High-Level Electricity Grids Forum
On Thursday, 7 September, Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson will participate in the first High-Level Electricity Grids Forum hosted by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) under the patronage of the European Commission.
The forum aims to accelerate the development of electricity grids across the EU, by bringing together high-level industry leaders, policymakers and innovators. To fulfil our REPowerEU Plan to end our imports of Russian fossil fuels, and the recently agreed ambition to reach a 45% renewable energy share by 2030, we need upgraded grids and strengthened energy infrastructure. This is key to delivering the European Green Deal. The event will bring together more than 200 participants including the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Member States, industry stakeholders, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The opening and closing sessions, including the Commissioner's remarks and keynote speech, will be live-streamed on the event's webpage.
Ahead of the high-level forum, Commissioner Simson said: "The European electricity network is one of the largest in the world, and a key enabler for Europe's clean energy transition. Europe will only ensure its energy security and deliver on its climate ambitions if our power infrastructure expands and evolves to be fit for a decarbonised energy system. But European networks are currently facing a number of challenges related to permitting, grid congestion and access to financing. The Future of Grids Forum is a timely opportunity for lead industries and stakeholders to make their voices heard and feed into the ongoing policy discussion at EU level."
(For more information: Tim McPhie – Tel.: +32 2 295 86 02; Giulia Bedini – Tel: +32 2 295 86 61)
Commission facilitates the activities of cross-border associations in the EU
Today, the Commission adopted a proposal to facilitate cross-border activities of non-profit associations in the EU. It will improve the functioning of the Internal Market by removing legal and administrative barriers for non-profit associations that operate or wish to operate in more than one Member State, thus promoting the role non-profit associations play in generating economic and societal values in the EU and allow a level playing field between them.
Currently, when non-profit associations engage in activities in another Member State than the one they are established in, they do not receive uniform acknowledgment of their legal personality and capacity and often need to register for a second time or even form a new legal entity in that Member State. About 310 000 non-profit associations currently affected by those obstacles when operating in another country are estimated to reduce administrative costs with the new rules by up to EUR 770 million per year, potentially amounting up to EUR 8.5 billion within the time frame of 15-years. Moreover, about another 185 000 non-profit associations are potentially expected to engage in cross-border activities, if the identified barriers tackled by the proposal are removed, and could generate up to EUR 4.2 billion added value over a 15-year period.
The Commission's proposal introduces an additional legal form of a European cross-border association (ECBA) in Member States' national legal systems, which is specifically designed for cross-border purposes and will reduce legal and administrative burden when it comes to the recognition and establishment of non-profit associations engaging in activities in another Member State. Once established in one Member State, an ECBA will be recognised automatically and will be able to engage in activities in all Member States, including economic activities, thereby allowing non-profit associations to unleash their full societal and economic potential in the EU. ECBAs will co-exist alongside with other national associations at Member State level. For matters that are not covered by the proposed Directive, such as taxation treatment, Member States shall treat ECBAs in the same way as comparable national non-profit associations, thereby respecting Member States' traditions in this area and not affecting existing associations.
The new rules will:
With the proposed Directive, the Commission also adopted a Regulation of technical nature amending the Internal Market Information System (IMI) and the Single Digital Gateway (SDG) Regulations, to allow cooperation and exchange of information among competent authorities through the IMI system and to conduct digital operations through the SDG allowing access to information about ECBAs available online.
Next Steps
The proposal will be presented to the European Parliament and the Council for approval. Once adopted, Member States will have two years to transpose the Directive into national law.
Non-profit associations create economic and societal value across the Union and conduct activities in key sectors such as health, care and social services, culture, employment services, sports, research and development and education. 3.8 million non-profit associations exist in EU Member States contributing 2.9% of EU GDP.
Acknowledging the need to create an enabling environment for the non-profit sector, the proposal stems from the European Parliament resolution with recommendations to the Commission on a statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations adopted on 17 February 2022.
The proposal is embedded in the broader political objectives of the European Green Deal and the Digital Decade 2030 and embraces the political priority for an economy that works for people. The proposal contributes to the objectives of the Action Plan for the Social Economy and is linked to some of its actions, such as the proposal for a Council Recommendation on developing social economy framework conditions in the Member States and the two Commission Staff Working Documents on ‘relevant taxation frameworks for social economy entities' and on ‘non-discriminatory taxation of charitable organisations and their donors: principles drawn from EU case-law'.
For More Information
Factsheet
European Parliament resolution of 17 February 2022 with recommendations to the Commission on a statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations
Action Plan for the Social Economy
Proposal for a Council Recommendation on developing social economy framework conditions in the Member States
Social economy Transition Pathway
Social economy Gateway
Comparative legal analysis of associations laws and regimes in the EU
Comparative legal analysis of merger rules concerning the associations in the EU
Subscribe to the European Commission's free e-mail newsletter on Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs.
Citation(s)
Non-profit associations play a pivotal role in our social economy by advancing collective interests in key areas such as employment, health, social services, education, research or sports. We are now making it easier for those entities to operate cross-border, enabling them to mobilise members and volunteers across the EU. The administrative cost saving of up to 770 Million euros per year will benefit the economy and civil society alike.
Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market - 05/09/2023
Calendar:
Tuesday 05 September,
Mr Margaritis Schinas receives Mr Pierre-Yves Dermagne, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium; participates to the EPP Youth Week panel session “A more secure Europe”.
Thursday 07 September,
Mr Margaritis Schinas participates to the Conference of the Heads of Government of the German Länder.
Ms Stella Kyriakides delivers a speech at the event on ‘How can the EU Pharmaceutical legislation be a success for children and adolescents with cancer?' co-organised by the European Society for Paediatric Oncology together with MEPs Against Cancer (MAC) Interest Group and hosted by MEP Loucas Fourlas in the European Parliament.
Friday 08 September,
Mr Margaritis Schinas in Thessaloniki, Greece (until 09/09): participates to the Economist - Third Thessaloniki Metropolitan Summit: “Envisaging Thessaloniki's Future in a New Era for Europe”; participates to the high level conference on climate neutrality organised by the Greek ministry of environment and energy.
Saturday 09 September,
Mr Margaritis Schinas in Thessaloniki, Greece : participates to the panel session “The European model of sports : sports for all” organised by the European Commission in Greece in the margins of the Thessaloniki international fair.
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