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.

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:

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. 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.

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. 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.”

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.