This Week in Mining — Brussels (#17, 2026)
Commission approves €5bn German aid for industrial decarbonisation; EU awards €1bn to hydrogen projects; ITRE adopts reports on coal, steel research; Council Competitiveness meeting announced.
May 03, 2026 to May 09, 2026
Commission approves €5bn German aid for industrial decarbonisation; EU awards €1bn to hydrogen projects; ITRE adopts reports on coal, steel research; Council Competitiveness meeting announced.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• 🤝 EU Council
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
European Commission
Commission approves €5 billion German State aid scheme for industrial decarbonisation
On 6 May 2026, the European Commission approved a €5 billion German State aid scheme under Article 107(3)(c) TFEU and the Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy (CEEAG). The scheme targets decarbonisation in sectors covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), including steel, metals, cement, chemicals, and more. Aid will be delivered via two-way carbon contracts for difference, with projects selected in competitive bidding for cost efficiency. Supported projects must deliver at least 50% CO2 emission reductions within four years and 85% by the end of 15 years, compared to reference systems. The scheme requires compliance with EU rules on renewable or low-carbon hydrogen and limits indirect CO2 emissions from electricity use. This measure replaces a scheme approved in March 2025, which Germany decided not to implement.
EU allocates over €1 billion to hydrogen projects via the European Hydrogen Bank
On 6 May 2026, the European Commission selected nine hydrogen production projects across seven EEA countries under the third auction of the European Hydrogen Bank, allocating approximately €1.09 billion from the Innovation Fund sourced from the EU ETS. The projects will add 1.1 GW of electrolyser capacity and are expected to produce over 1.3 million tonnes of hydrogen in their first decade, avoiding an estimated 9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The auction awarded grants based on the lowest bid price per kilogram of clean hydrogen, with fixed premiums ranging from €0.44 to €3.49/kg for up to 10 years. In addition, Spain and Germany will provide €1.7 billion in national funds via the 'Auctions-as-a-Service' feature to support further projects. Grant agreements are due to be signed in Q4 2026 with implementation monitored by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).
EU Council
Competitiveness Council (Internal market and Industry) scheduled for 28 May 2026
The next Competitiveness Council meeting (Internal market and Industry configuration) is scheduled for 28 May 2026.
EP Committee Work
ITRE Committee adopts report on Research Fund for Coal and Steel programme
On 7 May 2026, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) under rapporteur Borys Budka adopted the report on the draft Council decision for the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel. The report covers multiannual technical and financial guidelines and repeals Decisions 2003/77/EC and 2008/376/EC.
ITRE Committee considers draft opinion to extend Regulation (EU) 2023/956 to downstream goods
On 7 May 2026, the ITRE Committee, with rapporteur Massimiliano Salini, examined the draft opinion on the Commission proposal amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956. The amendment concerns extending the scope to downstream goods and introducing anti-circumvention measures.
ITRE Committee meeting reviews technical guidelines and research missions
On 6 May 2026, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) held a meeting in Brussels. The agenda included adoption of the draft report on the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, reporting back from committee missions to France and Japan, and consideration of draft opinions on decarbonisation funding and extension of carbon border measures.
What We're Reading This Week
- Exclusive: G7 in talks to set up permanent unit to oversee critical minerals agenda: G7 nations are negotiating the creation of a permanent body to coordinate strategy and oversight of critical mineral supply chains.
