Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Chief Executive of Hydrogen Europe, highlights the pivotal role of hydrogen in Europe's energy transition towards achieving net zero emissions and enhancing competitiveness. The European Commission's commitment to renewable, clean, and sustainable hydrogen is crucial for the energy system's resilience, security of supply, and global market share in hydrogen technologies. Despite significant progress since the 2020 Hydrogen Strategy launch, challenges remain, such as the need to scale up the hydrogen market and reduce equipment costs. Hydrogen's flexibility can aid in decarbonizing energy and industrial sectors still reliant on fossil fuels. Noteworthy advancements include six European hydrogen projects reaching FID in July 2024, representing nearly 1GW of electrolyser capacity. Prior to the European elections, Hydrogen Europe published a manifesto with 16 key recommendations to ensure the Green Deal's objectives are met, focusing on EU industrial policy, a thriving clean hydrogen market, and a pan-European infrastructure strategy. The manifesto advocates for a competitive, resilient, and sustainable EU industrial policy and a market-friendly regulatory framework to support renewable hydrogen's cost competitiveness. It also underscores the importance of developing a European hydrogen grid strategy to enhance energy system resilience and flexibility. The article portrays a positive sentiment towards hydrogen, emphasizing its potential to drive Europe's energy transition and industrial growth.