Spain and France are raising their voices in a European debate over what can be labeled as green hydrogen, a discussion that has quickly become a diplomatic flashpoint with wide-ranging economic and strategic implications for both nations. At the heart of the dispute is a mega-project known as H2Med, a proposed hydrogen corridor designed to move hydrogen across Europe, linking Spain and France and extending to Portugal and Germany. The agreement to advance this corridor has never been simple, but it has now become a symbol of how energy policy choices intersect with industrial strategy and regional cooperation.
The European Commission has signaled in recent days that hydrogen produced with electricity from nuclear power could obtain a label analogous to hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources. This interpretation aligns with France’s long-standing position as Europe’s largest nuclear power nation. Spain, however, has openly rejected this stance, with Teresa Ribera, the vice-president and minister for the Ecological Transition, voicing strong opposition in public forums. Her critiques have even drawn a formal response from the French Embassy in Madrid, underscoring the sensitivity of the issue to bilateral relations and to the broader energy governance debate in Brussels. The tension illustrates how national energy strategies can influence the design and perception of transnational projects like H2Med.
In a public reflection of the dilemma, the French ambassador Jean-Michel Casa expressed concerns about Ribera’s statements in a column for EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA, a newspaper published by the Prensa Ibérica group. The central claim from Paris is that hydrogen produced with low-carbon power, including nuclear energy, should be treated the same as hydrogen created from renewables under the European policy framework. This framing matters because it shapes how the future hydrogen corridor would be classified and regulated within the bloc, potentially affecting funding, standards, and cross-border use.
Paris’s insistence on equal labeling has fed into the argument that the future of H2Med could rely on a shared classification for both hydrogen types, enabling the corridor to carry hydrogen sourced from multiple origins in a seamless manner. The initial plan envisaged Spain exporting hydrogen to France and vice versa, keeping the corridor flexible enough to accommodate different energy mixes as market needs evolve. This flexibility is appealing to both capitals, but it also raises questions about what constitutes green energy in the eyes of the European regulatory framework and how such definitions influence cross-border infrastructure investments.
To prevent bilateral friction from undermining the corridor’s development, Spanish authorities have stepped in to clarify that ongoing discussions within the EU about energy arrangements—renewables, gas, hydrogen—should not derail the progress of the H2Med project. The Ministry of Ecological Transition has emphasized that the corridor is a three-country initiative involving Spain, France, Portugal, and Germany, with its success depending on a shared understanding of energy regulation across the union. The message is clear: economic and strategic gains from the project must not be held hostage to disputes over labeling standards that are subject to EU-wide negotiation.
From Madrid’s vantage point, the emphasis lies on maintaining a constructive path for European energy integration. The government has described its stance as a concerted effort to preserve momentum for decarbonization goals while acknowledging the need to respect each Member State’s technological preferences. The overarching objective is to accelerate the ecological transition and strengthen Europe’s autonomy in energy matters, reducing dependence on external producers while honoring commitments to climate objectives. The corridor is seen as part of a broader strategy to diversify energy resources, increase resilience, and support a fair transition for industry and households alike.
Spain recognizes France’s choice to maintain and expand its nuclear capacity as a viable route for producing hydrogen, and it does not dispute the possibility of using such electricity to generate hydrogen in France. However, Madrid stresses that this approach should not be deemed equivalent to renewable-based hydrogen in the EU regulatory sense. The Spanish authorities advocate that hydrogen from nuclear sources should be addressed within a clearly defined framework that respects both energy policy diversity and shared regional objectives. The key line, as expressed by the Ministry, is that nuclear-derived hydrogen does not automatically earn a renewable label, even when it contributes to low-carbon energy supply. Collaboration on shared infrastructure remains essential, but differentiation in labeling should be preserved for technical and policy clarity rather than diluted by political compromises.
Ultimately, Spain’s leadership positions itself as a facilitator of dialogue inside the EU, seeking consensus that aligns with national interests and with renewable energy expansion goals. The goal is to support a robust, competitive European energy market where renewable capacities are scaled up and integrated with other low-carbon options, while avoiding one-size-fits-all rules that could undermine national strategies. France’s approach to its nuclear resources is framed as a matter of strategic national interest, a stance that Spain respects while insisting that the regulatory framework must accurately reflect energy realities and market needs. The shared ambition is to keep H2Med on track as a cornerstone of European decarbonization, ensuring that both electricity and hydrogen infrastructure can move forward in a predictable, transparent, and mutually beneficial manner (Source: EU policy statements; national government briefings).