From External Governance to Energy Diplomacy: The European Pursuit of Green Hydrogen

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union (EU) and its Member States are faced with the double imperative of ensuring energy security whilst reaching decarbonisation goals. A number of authors have suggested that we are observing a geopolitical Commission that is shifting to more active ‘energy diplomacy’, as opposed to its traditional ‘external energy governance’ based on the EU's liberal and regulatory roots. However, this may be challenged by Member States that have their own views when it comes to hydrogen exports and, more generally, may oppose granting the Commission further capabilities in the international arena. Our paper examines whether Europe's role in international energy politics is indeed changing, using the case of green hydrogen in Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania. In Algeria and Morocco, we find that Germany has shifted from promoting green norms to seeking green energy supplies for its industry, whilst the EU plays only a supporting role. However, the EU is able to take the lead in promoting hydrogen in Mauritania, bringing countries that are skeptical of hydrogen imports, like Spain and France, under the Team Europe umbrella. This indicates that the EU is indeed engaging in energy diplomacy but does so only under specific (geo)political circumstances within partner countries.