The European Commission has opened infringement procedures against 26 Member States for failing to notify the complete transposition of the new European Directive on hydrogen and decarbonised gas markets.

The measure affects all European Union countries except Italy, which, according to Brussels, is the only Member State to have notified the complete transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/1788 within the deadline.

The procedures were launched through letters of formal notice sent to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.

Member States had until 5 August 2026 to transpose the Directive into their national legislation. They now have two months to respond to the Commission, complete the transposition process and notify the measures adopted.

If the responses are not considered satisfactory, Brussels may move to the next stage of the procedure and issue a reasoned opinion.

A new framework for the European hydrogen market

The Directive forms part of the European package on hydrogen and decarbonised gas markets adopted in 2024, which also includes Regulation (EU) 2024/1789.

The new framework updates the rules governing the European natural gas market and introduces a specific regulatory framework for dedicated hydrogen infrastructure.

Among its objectives is facilitating the integration of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, into the European energy system while maintaining security of supply and energy affordability.

The regulation seeks to establish the foundations for the development of a European hydrogen market, setting out the conditions under which dedicated hydrogen infrastructure can operate and updating the rules applicable to the transport and supply of decarbonised gases.

The failure to fully transpose the Directive does not currently imply financial penalties for the 26 countries concerned. A letter of formal notice constitutes the first formal stage of an EU infringement procedure.

Only if Member States fail to address the shortcomings at subsequent stages may the Commission eventually refer the cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union.